Improved synergistic effects among iron oxide, molybdenum disulfide, and multi-wall carbon nanotubes-based rubber composites for stretchable devices.

Stretchable devices and magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs) are together studied in the present work. The device based on composites generates an impressive ~ 8.5 V, and the composites based on iron oxide (Fe2O3) act as a catalyst for magneto-sensitive behavior. The composites were prepared by solution mixing of room-temperature vulcanized silicone rubber (RTV-SR), multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs), Fe2O3, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and their hybrid. From the experimental results, the hybrids were exhibiting a synergistic effect in properties and MWCNT at as low as 2 per hundred parts of rubber (phr) shows the robust increase in properties of the composites. The higher properties of MWCNT were proposed due to its high aspect ratio of 65, tube shape morphology which is easy to disperse, and higher cross-link density in the composites. This work provides insight to readers on a way to obtain robust properties of composite that are good for high-performance applications in MREs and remarkable piezo-electric energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]