Photothermal and Moisture Actuator Made with Graphene Oxide and Sodium Alginate for Remotely Controllable and Programmable Intelligent Devices

ABSTRACT: Functional materials with energy storage and conversion properties have benn useful for actuating devices. Here, a new kind of torsional fifiber-based actuator including graphene oxide (GO) and natural sodium alginate was prepared by traditional wet spinning and twisting methods, during which the fifiber structure was reconstructed, and the mechanical energy was prestored. When the twisted GO/SA (graphene oxide/sodium alginate) fifiber was stimulated by infrared light or moisture, the torsional structure of the fifiber was activated instantaneously to generate rapid and reversible rotational motion, thus realizing the automatic release and re-storage process of rotational kinetic energy. In addition, the full revolutions of the twisted GO/SA fifiber have no attenuation after 100 reversible rotations when stimulated by moisture, which proves the excellent rotational stability. Due to its excellent flflexibility and wettability, the twisted GO/SA fifiber can be woven into a network or prepared into a series of programmable intelligent devices, which is of great signifificance for future flflexible intelligent electronic devices.

Wang Wen, et al. Photothermal and moisture actuator made with grapheneoxide and sodium alginate for remotely controllable and programmable intelligent devices. ACS appliedmaterials & interfaces, 2019, 11, 21926-21934.