Fabrication and characterization of polymer-based electroactive nanocomposite actuator

• PU/CNTs electroactive nanocomposite actuator film was fabricated.
• Modification was performed to improve the dispersion of the CNTs.
• The films bent to the cathode side when voltage is applied.
• The films showed asymmetric charge distribution.
• Bending direction and actuation mechanism were discussed.

A nanocomposite actuator film incorporated with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was fabricated and evaluated. The materials are polyurethane and modified CNTs as the filler. The CNTs were modified using microwave-induced polymerization modification route to improve the dispersion. The actuator performance test revealed that the films bent to the cathode side when voltage was succeeded and reverted to their original position when the voltage was removed. Moreover, the electrical properties were evaluated and the charge accumulation was observed near the anode side when voltage is applied to the films. Based on this asymmetric charge density inside the films, a model which predicts the bending direction and actuation mechanism was suggested.

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