Self-assembled multi-layered carbon nanofiber nanopaper for significantly improving electrical actuation of shape memory polymer nanocomposite

This study presents an effective approach to significantly improve the electrical properties of shape memory polymer (SMP) nanocomposites that show Joule heating triggered shape recovery. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were self-assembled to form multi-layered nanopaper to enhance the bonding and shape recovery behavior of SMP, respectively. It was found that both glass transition temperature (Tg) and electrical properties of the SMP nanocomposites have been improved by incorporating multi-layers of self-assembled nanopapers. The electrically actuated shape recovery behavior and the temperature profile during the actuation were monitored and characterized at a voltage of 30 V.