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A core-shell of a carboxylic functional polystyrene (PS-COOH) with gold was prepared by the combination of surface gold-seeding and subsequent shell growth in a gold solution. The PS-COOH cores were prepared by a dispersion polymerization of styrene for seed formation followed by copolymerization of styrene and methacrylic acid. In the preparation of gold shell, PS-COOH cores were initially immersed into gold nanoparticles containing solution and continuous gold shell was formed by employing a mixed aqueous solution of Au(OH)3 and NH2OH. The gold nanoparticles impregnated into the PS-COOH cores were used as gold seeds to form continuous gold shells. The characteristics of the PS-COOH/Au core-shells were investigated by SEM, TEM, EDS and XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dry type conducting polymer actuator PEDOT/NBR/PEDOT is prepared. Nitrile rubber (NBR) containing room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazoliumbis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide (BMITFSI), have been utilized as a new type of solid polymer electrolytes. Various types of NBR having different amounts of acylonitrile (ACN), viz. 23, 35, and 40 mol.%, are synthesized in order to examine the effect of polarity of NBR on the actuation behavior. A conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), was synthesized on the surface of the SPEs by using a chemical oxidative polymerization technique. The electrical potential was applied on PEDOT layer which caused volume change to result in actuation behavior. The characteristics of the PEDOT/NBR/PEDOT actuator were carefully examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thin layer of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on the PET film was obtained by a vapor-phase polymerization technique using HAuCl4 as an oxidant. The EDOT monomer was easily oxidized by the HAuCl4 oxidant while HAuCl4 was reduced to form metallic Au nanoparticles. The formation of PEDOT/Au composite film was monitored by UV-vis spectra and SEM, and the formation of metallic Au was confirmed by EDAX and XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of a dry type conducting polymer actuator is presented using nitrile rubber (NBR) as the base material for the solid polymer electrolyte. A conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), was synthesized on the surface of the NBR by the chemical oxidation polymerization technique, and room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) based on imidazolium salts, viz. 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium X [where X = BF4-, PF6-, (CF3SO2)2N-], were introduced onto the composite film. The effects of the anion size of the ionic liquids on the displacement of the actuator were investigated. The displacement increased with increasing anion-size of the ionic liquids. The cyclic voltammetric responses and the redox switching dynamics of the actuators were studied in different ionic liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Au/PDVB core-shell was prepared by the chemical reduction of a gold-phenanthroline complex on the poly(divinylbenzene) (PDVB) cores (2-5 μm). The PDVB cores were synthesized by precipitation polymerization, and the surface was modified by introducing thiol and sulfonic acid groups. The degree of sulfonation was measured according to its ion exchange capacity (IEC, 5.72 meq/g), and the surface concentration of thiol group was examined by FT-IR spectroscopy. The modified PDVB cores was immersed in a solution of a gold-phenanthroline complex and subsequently reduced to form gold seeds. The effects of the functional groups on the PDVB cores on fabrication of the gold core shell structure were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of dry type conducting polymer actuator was presented. In the preparation of actuator system, nitrile rubber (NBR) was used as a base material of the solid polymer electrolyte. Thin films of NBR (150 ~ 200 µm) were prepared by compression molding process. The conducting polymer, polypyrrole(PPy) was synthesized on the surface of NBR by chemical oxidation polymerization technique, and the room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (BMITFSI) was introduced into the composite film. The cyclic voltammetry responses and the redox switching dynamics of PPy in NBR/ionic liquid solid polymer electrolyte were studied. The displacement of actuator was measured by laser beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We synthesized multi-walled carbon nanotube(MWNT)/polyaniline(PANI)nanocomposites from an oxidative dispersion polymerization using poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA)as a polymeric stabilizer. Purified MWNT whose metallic catalysts have been removed in acidic media was applied. The formation of nanocomposites and their morphology were confirmed by both scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM). Electrorheological properties were further characterized by a rotational rheometer equipped with a high voltage generator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]