Preparation, Electromechanical, and Structural Study of Carbon Nanotube/Gelatin Nanocomposites
Abstract
Multi-walled carbon nanotube "MWNT"/gelatin composites by dispersion of MWNT through ultrasonication in an aqueous medium with anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate "SDS". The swelling behavior and the bending mechanism of the composite and pure gelatin films were studied in order to clarify the potential use of MWNT in the gelatin actuator. The response of the composite and pure hydrogel to the applied electrical field in the NaCl aqueous solution was investigated. Both of the composite and pure hydrogel showed a two-stage bending phenomenon, an early bending towards the anode and a later bending to towards the cathode. An investigation of the mechanism of this bending phenomenon was performed based on osmotic pressure difference at the inter-phase between the hydrogel film and salt solution. The swelling behavior of the composite was studied by immersion of the vacuum-dried gels samples into a 0.1 M NaCl aqueous solution at room temperature. The incorporation of MWNT gradually decreased the swelling of the hydrogel and exerted no effect on the swelling mechanism which followed the second order kinetic. Both the bound and unbound water contents "measured from DSC" decreased with the addition of MWNT. This phenomenon might be due to the hydrophobic effect of the MWNT and increase in crosslinking density by increasing the MWNT concentration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA475553
Entities
People
- Soo-young Park
Organizations
- Kyungpook National University