Fast relaxation of carbon nanotubes in polymer composite actuators

Silicone elastomer composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been irradiated with near-infrared light to study their mechanical actuation response. We show that the speed of the stimulated response is faster than Debye relaxation, instead following a compressed-exponential law. However...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2006-04, Vol.96 (13), p.133902-133902, Article 133902
Main Authors: Ahir, S V, Terentjev, E M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Silicone elastomer composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been irradiated with near-infrared light to study their mechanical actuation response. We show that the speed of the stimulated response is faster than Debye relaxation, instead following a compressed-exponential law. However, the relaxation after switching off the light source follows the simple-exponential relaxation, as does the stimulated response at very low nanotube concentration. We discuss possible models and explanations to account for the fast photomechanical response.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.133902