Piezo-Electrochemical Transducer Effect Intercalated Graphite Micro-Electromechanical Actuators

The purpose of this research is to investigate the Piezo-Electrochemical Transducer (PECT) effect in intercalated graphite as a possible mechanism of actuation for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). This dissertation presents the results of research into the PECT effect in H2SO4-intercalated graphitized carbon fibers, including both electrical and mechanical characteristics of this effect. PECT fibers achieve up to 1.7% strain at 1.4 V of applied potential. In contrast, the piezoelectric material polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) generates only 0.01% strain and polysilicon thermal expansion between 0.02 and 0.06% strain depending on the thermal conductivity of the particular polysilicon that the actuators are fabricated in.