Enhanced electroactive properties of polyurethane films loaded with carbon-coated SiC nanowires

Abstract

Polyurethane-based nanocomposite films were prepared by incorporating carbon-coated SiC nanowires (SiC@C) into the polymer matrix. Electric field-induced strain measurements revealed that a loading of 0.5 wt% SiC@C increased the strain level by a factor of 1.7 at a moderate field strength (6.5 V µm−1). Current–electric field characteristics and the film thickness dependence of strain demonstrated that the improvement of the electromechanical response was linked to a more pronounced space charge effect in the nanocomposite than in the polymer host. DSC measurements revealed that the level of phase mixing in the PU matrix remained unchanged after SiC@C filling; hence, the nano-objects themselves acted as charge traps.