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Polypyrrole stretchable actuators |
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| Authors: | Wen Zheng Gursel Alici Philip R Clingan Bridget J Munro Geoffrey M Spinks Julie R Steele Gordon G Wallace |
| Institution: | 1. Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, ARC Center of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia;2. School of Mechanical, Materials, and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia;3. Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia;4. Biomechanics Research Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia |
| Abstract: | 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% without significant change in electrical resistance. The corrugated PPy/gold/rubber laminates successfully showed ～1% of actuation strain even when prestretched to 24%. The actuation strains were smaller than for similar free‐standing PPy films and a detailed analysis of the effects of corrugation and of the rubber substrate are presented to predict actuation strain under various prestretch strains. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013 |
| Keywords: | conducting polymers electrochemistry lymphedema sleeve mechanical properties polypyrrole stimuli‐sensitive polymers stretchable actuator wearable electronics |