Multi-responsive actuators based on a graphene oxide composite: intelligent robot and bioinspired applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Carbon-based actuators are gaining attention for energy conversion but face limitations in deformation amplitude and complex shape changes.
• Existing actuators often have single-mode deformation, restricting their functional versatility.
• Achieving complex, multi-directional actuation in a single device remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop multi-responsive actuators with enhanced deformation capabilities using a graphene oxide (GO) and biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) composite.
• To design actuators capable of both bending and twisting motions for versatile robotic applications.
• To demonstrate the potential of these actuators in creating intelligent robots and bio-inspired mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of GO/BOPP composite materials in strip and helical shapes.
• Investigation of actuation mechanisms driven by humidity and near-infrared (NIR) light.
• Design and construction of an intelligent robot and a bio-inspired robot arm utilizing the developed actuators.

Main Results:

• Strip-shape GO/BOPP actuators demonstrated significant bending actuation (curvature up to 3.1 cm⁻¹) driven by humidity and dual-mode actuation (curvature of 2.8 cm⁻¹) by NIR light.
• A helical GO/BOPP actuator successfully mimicked plant tendril behavior, exhibiting both twisting and untwisting actuations.
• A robot arm constructed with these actuators could grasp an object 2.9 times its own weight.

Conclusions:

• The GO/BOPP composite offers a promising platform for developing high-performance, multi-responsive actuators.
• The developed actuators enable complex shape deformations and versatile functionalities for intelligent robotic systems.
• This research paves the way for advanced bio-inspired robots with enhanced manipulation capabilities.