Novel electroactive PVA-TOCN actuator that is extremely sensitive to low electrical inputs

Abstract

A novel electroactive biopolymer actuator was developed based on a cross-linked ionic networking membrane of TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofibers (TOCNs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Ionic liquids were added to develop an air-working artificial muscle and to enhance the performance of the PVA-TOCN actuator. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conducting layers were deposited on the top and bottom surfaces of the PVA-TOCN membrane via a simple dipping and drying method. The electroactive PVA-TOCN actuator under both step and harmonic electrical inputs shows much larger tip displacements and faster bending deformation than the pure TOCN actuator. The crosslinking reaction between PVA and TOCN was observed in the Fourier transform-near-infrared (FT-IR) spectrum of the PVA-TOCN networking membrane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffusion (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile and ion conductivity testing results for the PVA-TOCN membrane were compared with those of pristine TOCN. Most important, the PVA-TOCN actuator shows much larger bending deformation under even extremely low input voltages, and this could be attributed to the cross-linking mechanism and the greater flexibility resulting from the synergistic effects between PVA and TOCN.

Properties of hydroxypropyl guar/TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils composite films

“…Thermal degradation of TOCNs film appeared at 200°C where the crystalline phase of TOCNs was destroyed and the amorphous phase was decomposed into mono-D-glucopyranose (Rodionova et al 2012b;Jradi et al 2012). The third weight loss at 360-600°C was attributed to the carbonation (Wang et al 2014a). The decomposition temperature for the composite films, i.e., CF1, CF2 and CF3 were 223, 217 and 210°C, respectively, indicating that the thermal stability of the composite films was increased with the increase of HPG content.…”

A soft biomolecule actuator based on a highly functionalized bacterial cellulose nano-fiber network with carboxylic acid groups

“…[19][20] The TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofibrils with uniform widths of 3-6 nm possesses superior physical properties such as high aspect ratio, high surface-tovolume ratio, low thermal expansion, and high elastic properties. [19][20] The TEMPO-oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofibrils with uniform widths of 3-6 nm possesses superior physical properties such as high aspect ratio, high surface-tovolume ratio, low thermal expansion, and high elastic properties.…”

Fabrication of a High-Performance Bending Actuator Made with a PVC Gel

“…Figure 6 shows the results of dielectric constants of the prepared PVC gels as a function of input frequency. The dielectric constants are increased in the low-frequency range (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). It can be considered that, in a nonionic PVC gel physically crosslinked with plasticizer, DBA molecules are charged and polarized under the electric field, and then the polarized DBA easily facilitates the free dipole reorientation of the PVC chain in the PVC gel network [28].…”

“…Poly vinyl alcohols (PVAs) are another candidate material for fabricating bending actuators. Fan Wang et al introduced a PVA-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpy-peridine-1-oxyl-oxidized bacterial cellulose nanofiber (TOCN)-based bending actuator [9]. Xuan-Lun Wang et al enhanced the actuation performance of a bending actuator based on PVA by improving proton conductivity and ionic-exchangeable capacity [10].…”