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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Evaluation Of Encapsulating Coatings On The Performance Of Polypyrrole Actuators, Sina Naficy, Nicholas Stoboi, Philip G. Whitten, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Gordon G. Wallace
Evaluation Of Encapsulating Coatings On The Performance Of Polypyrrole Actuators, Sina Naficy, Nicholas Stoboi, Philip G. Whitten, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Gordon G. Wallace
Gordon Wallace
Conjugated polymer actuators are electroactive materials capable of generating force and movement in response to an applied external voltage. Many potential biomedical and industrial applications require these actuators to operate in a liquid environment. However, immersion of uncoated conducting polymer actuators in non-electrolyte liquids greatly reduces their operating lifetime. Here, we demonstrate the use of spray coating as an effective and simple method to encapsulate polypyrrole (PPy) tri-layer bending actuators. Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) was used as an encapsulating, compliant spray coating on PPy actuators. A significant enhancement in actuator lifetime in both air and water was observed by encapsulating the actuators. …
Polypyrrole Stretchable Actuators, Wen Zheng, Gursel Alici, Phillip R. Clingan, Bridget Munro, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Julie R. Steele, Gordon G. Wallace
Polypyrrole Stretchable Actuators, Wen Zheng, Gursel Alici, Phillip R. Clingan, Bridget Munro, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Julie R. Steele, Gordon G. Wallace
Gordon Wallace
Here, we report a simple way to prepare stretchable polypyrrole (PPy)-based actuator materials that can be operated over a wide dynamic strain range and generate useable actuation displacements and pressures. The stretchable actuators were prepared as a laminated composite of PPy and a gold-coated roughened rubber sheet. By manipulating the corrugated surface of the rubber substrate, the stretchability of PPy was greatly improved. Gold-coated rubbers could be stretched to 30 percent without significant change in electrical resistance. The corrugated PPy/gold/rubber laminates successfully showed - 1 percents of actuation strain even when prestretched to 24 percent. The actuation strains were smaller …
Comparative Displacement Study Of Bilayer Actuators Comprising Of Conducting Polymers, Fabricated From Polypyrrole, Poly(3,4- Ethylenedioxythiophene) Or Poly(3,4-Propylenedioxythiophene), Babita Gaihre, Syed Ashraf, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Peter C. Innis, Gordon G. Wallace
Comparative Displacement Study Of Bilayer Actuators Comprising Of Conducting Polymers, Fabricated From Polypyrrole, Poly(3,4- Ethylenedioxythiophene) Or Poly(3,4-Propylenedioxythiophene), Babita Gaihre, Syed Ashraf, Geoffrey M. Spinks, Peter C. Innis, Gordon G. Wallace
Gordon Wallace
The stress gradient generated due to electrochemical oxidation/reduction of a conducting polymer in a bilayer actuator causes a bending movement. Here we report a comparative study of the displacement of bilayer actuators prepared using different conducting polymers. The effects of conducting polymers obtained from electrochemical or chemical synthesis route: different polymers (polypyrrole (PPy), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) PEDOT and poly(3,3-dihexyl-3-4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4b][1,4]-dioxepine [PProDOT(Hx) 2]); and different electrolytes (0.1 M lithium trifluromethanesulfonate/propylenecarbonate (LiTFSI/PC) and 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium trifluromethanesulfonate (EMITFSI)) on the displacement amplitude and displacement patterns of these actuators were investigated and compared. The results indicate that the bilayer actuator consisting of an electrochemically synthesized conducting polymer …