Electromechanical Analysis by Means of Complex Capacitance of Bucky-Gel Actuators Based on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and an Ionic Liquid

摘要

The displacement caused by an applied sinusoidal voltage and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used to analyze the electromechanical behavior of bucky-gel single-walled carbon nanotube actuators containing an ionic liquid. This behavior can be understood in terms of complex capacitance diagrams and the frequency dependence of the real and imaginary components of the capacitance. The complex power allows analyzing the relationship between energy storage and energy dissipation during the operation of the electrochemical actuator. Bucky-gel SWCNT actuators behave as supercapacitors. Accordingly, the energy-power plot or Ragone plot expresses the useable energy as a function of the power. In order to visualize the relationship between mechanical behavior and electrochemical properties, the strain-power plot is reported. The maximum power P_(max) and specific energy densities E_(max) of the electrochemical actuator are calculated. The energy densities of bucky-gel SWCNT actuators containing an ionic liquid are of the same order of magnitude as those of natural muscles.