Graphene/poly(styrene‐b‐isoprene‐b‐styrene) nanocomposite optical actuators

This article presents an optomechanical actuator, which is driven by infra red (IR) radiation. The actuator is a nanocomposite‐containing graphene platelets embedded in poly(styrene‐b‐isoprene‐b‐styrene) (SIS) matrix. 0.1 mm thick free‐standing nanocomposite films are fabricated by a simple process of solvent casting. We demonstrate that graphene/SIS nanocomposite contracts on irradiation with IR radiation under strained conditions, whereas expansion behavior was exhibited by them when no prestrain is applied. A maximum photomechanical stress of 28.34 kPa and strain upto 3.1% was obtained for these nanocomposite actuators. We have also studied the mechanical characteristics and thermal degradation of these nanocomposite actuators. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 3902–3908, 2013