Ecofriendly electroactive AMPS-mediated functional carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals for high-performance ionic artificial muscles

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 129; no. 2
• Main Authors: Wang, Fan, Zheng, Shanqi, Ye, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acrylamide; Actuation; Actuators; Applied physics; Artificial muscles; Biomimetics; Bionics; Cellulose; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Electronic devices; End effectors; Flexible components; Frequencies; Haptic interfaces; Ionic liquids; Ions; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Medical devices; Medical equipment; Nanocrystals; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Robot arms; Sine waves; Soft robotics; Sulfonic acid; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Wearable technology; Artificial muscles; Bioinspired applications; Ionic actuators; Carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-022-06378-z

Ecofriendly high-performance ionic artificial muscles have received great interest in wearable electronics, active medical devices, flexible sensors, biomimetic robots, and smart devices. Herein, a novel ecofriendly ionic soft actuator is reported based on the carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (CCNC), 2-acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid) (AMPS), and ionic liquid (IL). The designed CCNC-IL-AMPS actuator exhibited a large displacement of 15.20 mm (peak-to-peak) under ± 1.5 V sine wave signal at 0.1 Hz, low driving voltage (< 2.0 V), long air-working stability (98% retention after 2 h), and wide frequency band. The improved actuation performances of the actuator were because of its high specific capacitance (188.7 mF cm −2 ) and tuned mechanical properties, stemming from the strong interactions among carboxylated groups of the CCNC, sulfonated groups of the AMPS, and IL. Furthermore, we successfully investigated the bioinspired applications of the actuator including electroactive bionic robotic arms and artificial soft robotic fingers. Therefore, the designed artificial muscles demonstrate the great potential for haptic devices, soft actuators, flexible sensors, wearable devices, and soft robotics.