Exfoliated WS₂-Nafion Composite based Electromechanical Actuators.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Loeian, Masoud S. Ziolkowska, Dominika A. Khosravi, Farhad Jasinski, Jacek B. Panchapakesan, Balaji
Abstract	The ability to convert electrical energy into mechanical motion is of significant interest in many energy conversion technologies. Here, we demonstrate the first liquid phase exfoliated WS2-Nafion nanocomposite based electro-mechanical actuators. Highly exfoliated layers of WS2 mixed with Nafion solution, solution cast and doped with Li+ was studied as electromechanical actuators. Resonant Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photo-electron-spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and AC impedance spectroscopy were used to study the structure, photoluminescence, water uptake, mechanical and electromechanical actuation properties of the exfoliated nanocomposites. A 114% increase in elastic modulus (dry condition), 160% increase in proton conductivity, 300% increase in water uptake, cyclic strain amplitudes of ~0.15% for 0.1 Hz excitation frequency, tip displacements greater than nanotube-Nafion and graphene-Nafion actuators and continuous operation for more than 5 hours is observed for TMD-Nafion actuators. The mechanism behind the increase in water uptake is a result of oxygen atoms occupying the vacancies in the hydrophilic exfoliated flakes and subsequently bonding with water, not possible in Nafion composites based on carbon nanotube and graphene.
Journal	Scientific Reports [Sci Rep]
Volume Number	7
DOI	10.1038/s41598-017-14806-x
PubMed Central reference number	PMC5668253
Issue Number	1
PubMed reference number	29097706
e-ISSN	20452322
Language	English
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
Publisher Date	2017-11-06
Publisher Place	London
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Two-dimensional materials
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Multidisciplinary