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A flexible metallic actuator using reduced graphene oxide as a multifunctional component.
Junxing Meng1, Jiuke Mu, Chengyi Hou
1State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibres and Polymer Materials, College of Material Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China. wanghz@dhu.edu.cn hcy@dhu.edu.cn.
Nanoscale
|August 24, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a novel metal-based flexible actuator. It demonstrates a fast response, large curvature, and high stability under low voltage, overcoming limitations of existing flexible actuators.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Mechanical Engineering
Background:
- Existing flexible actuators often suffer from slow response times, high voltage requirements, and poor durability.
- Limitations are observed in actuators based on polymers, low-dimensional materials, and pore-rich materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel, high-performance flexible actuator.
- To address the limitations of current actuator technologies using a metal-based approach.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a flexible actuator using partial oxidation and nano-functionalization of copper foil.
- Assistance of reduced graphene oxide in the fabrication process.
- Development of an asymmetric metallic actuator.
Main Results:
- The actuator exhibits a fast response rate of approximately 2 seconds.
- Achieved a large curvature of 2.4 cm⁻¹ under a low driving voltage of approximately 1 V.
- Demonstrated sustainable operation for up to 50,000 cycles.
- Actuator performance is maintained under various conditions, including air, water, and vacuum.
- Triggering via infrared irradiation and direct heating was successful.
Conclusions:
- The novel metal-based actuator offers significant advantages over existing technologies.
- The developed actuator shows potential for diverse real-life applications requiring flexible actuation.
- The fabrication method is simple and efficient, utilizing readily available materials.
