By dispersing graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) within a polydimethylsiloxane matrix, we show that light absorption by GNPs and subsequent energy transduction to the polymeric chains can be used to controllably produce significant amounts of motion through entropic elasticity of the pre-strained composite. Using dual actuators, a twoaxis sub-micron resolution stage was developed, and allowed for two-axis photo-thermal positioning (~100 μm per axis) with 120 nm resolution (feedback sensor limitation), and ~5 μm s^-1 actuation speeds. A PID control loop automatically stabilizes the stage against thermal drift, as well as random thermal-induced position fluctuations (up to the bandwidth of the feedback and position sensor).

Date Published: 28 August 2014
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 9170, Nanoengineering: Fabrication, Properties, Optics, and Devices XI, 91700B (28 August 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2061071

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9170:
Nanoengineering: Fabrication, Properties, Optics, and Devices XI
Eva M. Campo; Elizabeth A. Dobisz; Louay A. Eldada, Editor(s)