Effect Of Electrochemical Interaction Between Nafion And Carbon Nanotube On Nanotube Bundle Size Of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Dispersed lonomeric Nanocomposites As Biomimetic Artificial Muscles

摘要

Multiwalled carbon nanotube (M-CNT)/Nafion composites using biomimetic sensors, actuators and artificial muscles were prepared by a solution casting and investigated to evaluate the variation of bundle size of M-CNT during the process. The perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer membrane (Nafion) consisted of Teflon-like backbones and side-chain terminated by the sulfonic acid group (SO_3~-) along with counter ions such as K+, Na+, H+, and Li+. Liquid Nafion solution (5%) and M-CNTs were purchased from Aldrichi and Catalytic Materials, respectively. M-CNT powders were boiled for 15 min at 120°C in a mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid (3:1 volume ratio) for better dispersion in either water or alcohol. After filtration and being washed, the M-CNTs were debundled mechanically using an agate mortar and pestle, followed by a ball mill in a polyethylene jar with zirconia beads for 72 h. The M-CNT/Nafion composites were prepared by the dispersion of the as-treated M-CNTs in a Nafion solution in 1 wt. % intervals in the range of 0 to 7 wt. %. Final thickness of the composite film was about 150 μm.