Optically triggered actuation in chitosan/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 144; pp. 115 - 121
• Main Authors: M N, Muralidharan, K P, Shinu, A, Seema
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 25.06.2016
• Subjects: Actuators; Chitosan - chemistry; Chitosan - radiation effects; Composites; Equipment Design; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Graphite - radiation effects; Infrared Rays; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanocomposites - radiation effects; Optical; Oxidation-Reduction; Photomechanical; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Stress, Mechanical; Thermogravimetry; Actuators; Composites; Photomechanical; Graphene; Optical
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.02.047

•Chitosan/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite optical actuators were prepared by a simple solvent casting method.•The photomechanical actuation of the composites is demonstrated under IR illumination.•Photomechanical stress as high as 695kPa was achieved with 4wt.% RGO loading.•The actuation behaviour can be tuned either by tuning the RGO content or by tuning the applied pre-strain. Bio-compatible actuators which can work under optical stimulus have great future in bio-medical applications. In this work, chitosan/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposite optical actuators were developed through a simple solvent casting technique. The photomechanical actuation of the composites is demonstrated under IR illumination. All samples exhibited contraction in length when exposed to IR light. The photomechanical stress and strain were found to increase with increasing RGO concentration. Photomechanical stress as high as 695kPa was achieved with 4wt.% RGO loading. Contrary to some other reported systems, the photomechanical stress decreased with the applied pre-strain. The actuation behaviour can be tuned either by altering the RGO content or applied pre-strain.