Graphene/elastomer composite-based photo-thermal nanopositioners.

摘要: The addition of nanomaterials to polymers can result not only in significant material property improvements, but also assist creating entirely new composite functionalities. By dispersing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) within a polydimethylsiloxane matrix, we show that efficient light absorption by GNPs and subsequent energy transduction the polymeric chains be used controllably produce amounts motion through entropic elasticity pre-strained composite. Using dual actuators, two-axis sub-micron resolution stage was developed, allowed for photo-thermal positioning (~100 μm per axis) with 120 nm (feedback sensor limitation), ~5 μm/s actuation speeds. A PID control loop automatically stabilizes against thermal drift, as well random thermal-induced position fluctuations (up bandwidth feedback sensor). Maximum actuator efficiency values ~0.03% were measured, approximately 1000 times greater than recently reported light-driven polymer systems.