Abstract
Ionogels have been of interest as an alternative electroactive material for soft actuator applications, as they can maintain the shape and size under ambient conditions. Herein, the physically cross-linked agarose ionogels were fabricated via a solvent casting method by using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim][Cl]) as the ionic liquid. The electro-actuation responses were investigated in terms of agarose contents and electric field strengths. For the electromechanical responses, the electrostriction shows two distinct behaviors dependent on agarose contents: at the high agarose content of 12.0%v/v, the storage modulus relative response (ΔG'/G'0) was the positive value of 0.06, known as the positive electrostriction; at the low agarose contents of 4.0%v/v and 8.0%v/v, the ΔG'/G'0 were negative definite at −0.11 and −0.06, respectively. These behaviors occurred from the plasticizing [Bmim][Cl] molecules which were able to hinder the agarose intermolecular interactions. For the electro-induced bending behaviors, the AG-[Bmim][Cl] Ionogel_4.0%v/v revealed the highest deflection distance and dielectrophoresis force (Fd) due to its lower initial rigidity and the polarizations from the [Bmim][Cl], moisture, and agarose structures, respectively. Comparing with other bio-polymeric hydrogels and ionogels, the present AG-[Bmim][Cl] Ionogels are shown here to possess relatively low electrostrictive stresses but high dielectrophoresis force density; both are essential features for utilizing in soft actuator applications.
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