Electromechanical actuation of CNT/PVDF composite films based on a bridge configuration

Gu Xiaogang^{1, 2, 3}, Xia Xiaogang^{1, 2, 3}, Zhang Nan^{1, 3}, Xiao Zhuojian^{1, 2, 3}, Fan Qingxia^{1, 3}, Yang Feng^{1, 2, 3}, Xiao Shiqia^{1, 2, 3}, Chen Huiliang^{1, 2, 3}, Zhou Weiya^{1, 2, 3, †}, Xie Sishen^{1, 2, 3, ‡}

(color online) (a) Switch application of the CNT/PVDF actuator. The LED can be triggered on through the actuation of the CNT/PVDF strip driven by a low voltage of 0.5 V. (b) Schematic illustration of the structure and mechanism for the part which is enclosed by the dark grey rectangle in panel (a). The actuation of the CNT/PVDF strip generates curvature and meanwhile exerts enough stress on the conductive “spring” to make it closely contacted with the bottom silver electrode.