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Soft electroactive polymer actuators based on regioregular/regiorandom-poly(3-hexylthiophene) blends with a nanofiber structure

Polymer Journal volume 56, pages 1187–1195 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

An ionic electroactive polymer actuator (IEPA) was fabricated in this study using a blend of regioregular-poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) nanofibers, regiorandom-P3HT (RRa-P3HT), and polybutadiene rubber (PBR). The RR-P3HT nanofiber mat, which was reinforced with RRa-P3HT as tie chains and PBR as a flexible matrix, exhibited a large surface area where the nanofibers contacted the electrolyte. Therefore, efficient actuation is expected to synergize with the superior carrier mobility inherent in the nanofibrous architecture. The blended actuator, which preserved the RR-P3HT nanofiber structure, exhibited a substantial bending angle exceeding 80° following the redox reaction while sustaining reversible actuation for more than 30 cycles. An optimal scan rate below 100 mV s−1 was required to obtain substantial actuation. Therefore, the RR-P3HT nanofibers blended with RRa-P3HT and PBR demonstrated remarkable functionality as an IEPA, which was characterized by a significant bending angle and enduring cyclic actuation capabilities.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by KAKENHI (grant nos. JP21K18995 and JP22H02136) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The authors thank Dr. Shinji Kanehashi at the TUAT for the mechanical strength measurements. The XRD measurements were performed at TUAT for the Research Center for Science and Technology, and the authors thank Dr. Keiichi Noguchi for the technical assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by KAKENHI (grant nos. JP21K18995 and JP22H02136) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

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  1. Departmant of Applied Chemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan

    Yoshihiro Murasawa, Tomoya Yoshii, Takumi Suzuki & Takeshi Shimomura

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  1. Yoshihiro Murasawa
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Correspondence to Takeshi Shimomura.

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Murasawa, Y., Yoshii, T., Suzuki, T. et al. Soft electroactive polymer actuators based on regioregular/regiorandom-poly(3-hexylthiophene) blends with a nanofiber structure. Polym J 56, 1187–1195 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-024-00949-y

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