Strain-controlled Graphene-Polymer Angular Actuator. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gilbert, S. Matt; Molnar, Adam; Horton-Bailey, Donez; Yao, Helen Y.; Zettl, Alex
• Is Part Of: MRS advances. Volume 4:Number 40(2019)
• Page Start: 2161
• Page End: 2167
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: graphene, -- Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), -- actuation; Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/adv.2019.276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2059-8521

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate a suspended graphene-(poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer angular displacement actuator enabled by variable elastic modulus of the perforated stacked structure. Azimuthal flexures support a central disc-shaped membrane, and compression of the membrane can be used to control the rotation of the entire structure. Irradiating the PMMA on graphene stack with 5 kV electrons in a convention scanning electron microscope reduces the elastic modulus of the PMMA and allows graphene's built in strain to dominate and compress the flexures, thus rotating the actuator.