Sonochemical synthesis of platinum nanowires and their applications as electro-chemical actuators.
We report the sonochemical synthesis of platinum nanowires on carbon nanotube templates and their application in electrochemical actuation. The fabrication of platinum nanowires was achieved by suspending well separated single wall carbon nanotubes in isopropyl alcohol and ultra-sonically agitating the solution in the presence of dihydrogen hexachloroplatinate. The platinum nanowires were further processed into micro and macro scale free standing sheets by vacuum filtration. An electrochemical cantilever actuator was constructed using the platinum nanowire sheet which actuated under electrical bias. Displacement of '3 mm was readily achieved when the electrical potential was swept at low voltages between -2 V and 2 V at a scan rate of 200 mV/s. The actuator showed the metallic actuation characteristics instead of that from carbon nanotubes. These results show the applicability of metallic nanomaterials for actuation technologies.
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, USA.
Shaoxin
S
Lu
Kousik
K
Sivakumar
Balaji
B
Panchapakesan
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004559:Electric Wiring / Q000295:instrumentation; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009038:Motion; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013010:Sonication; D013499:Surface Properties
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010984:Platinum