Polypyrrole Nanowire Actuators

Abstract

Polypyrrole nanowires can be template synthesized, and have been tested and characterized as to their ability to function as nanoactuators in an aqueous environment. This is the first report of conducting-polymer nanowires functioning as electrically controlled nanoactuators (see Figure). Bundles of parallel nanowires displayed two modes of actuation: a reversible increase in length of up to 3% and large-scale bimorph-like bending behavior when coupled to a freestanding gold film.