Electro-Active Polymer Actuator based on PVDF with Bacterial Cellulose Nano-whiskers (BCNW) Via Electrospinning Method

Hybrid electro-active polymer actuator using poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) membranes enhanced with bacterial cellulose nanowhiskers (BCNW) are developed through an electrospinning method and hence characterized. PVDF is dissolved in DMF and acetone solvent to prepare the PVDF solution for the electrospinning. Nanowhiskers of bacterial cellulose are extracted by hydrolysis using sulfonic acid. PVDF-BCNW composite membranes with porous structure are prepared via an electrospinning method according to the BCNW contents. The crystallinity of the PVDF-BCNW composites through the XRD and DSC analysis are decreased as 50.2% and 43.7%, considerably, meanwhile, the electrolyte holding capacity of the PVDF-BCNW composite is increased as 760%, significantly. The actuating performance is also enhanced significantly as +/- 3.4 mm and 4.5 mm for the sinusoidal and step inputs. Electro active actuators based on the PVDF-BCNW composite produced by dipping and drying method showes significantly improved displacement because of the synergistic effect of ion migration and electrochemical doping process when the voltage is applied. A novel PVDF-BCNW actuators are useful for items such as biomimetic robots and other diverse applications.