Characteristics of electroactive polymer actuators using graphene electrodes

Abstract

As alternatives to precious gold/platinum electrodes, graphene-based ionic polymer-metal composite actuators were successfully demonstrated by reduced graphene oxide and direct grown graphene on both sides of the perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymer layer using electronic spray coating and wet transfer methods. In addition, a platinum electrode was prepared as a reference. We characterized the electrical and structural properties of the graphene electrodes using a four-point probe system and atomic force microscopy. The static actuation ranges were analyzed, and a modeling procedure was carried out to obtain the linear curvature---voltage relations. Furthermore, the periodic actuation range was dynamically tested to evaluate the changes in the actuation performance over time. The experimental results showed that the reduced graphene oxide electrodes are a good alternative to platinum electrode that provide better flexibility and restoration of the original shape. And also direct grown graphene electrode is also valuable to access the stacked actuator owing to the hydrophobic sub-nanometer electrode.