Abstract
AbstractSoft actuators belong to a type of actuators made of soft materials which are capable of converting applied energy to mechanical motion. They have been utilized in several fields due to their flexibility, low weight, inexpensiveness and simple fabrication. In this work, iotaācarrageenan (šC) was chosen as the starting material for a hydrogelābased actuator. The šC hydrogels were fabricated via a simple solventācasting technique at various concentrations: 2.4% (v/v), 2.8% (v/v) and 3.2% (v/v). All šC hydrogels were characterized for their chemical, thermal, rheological and morphological properties as well as the actuation performances under applied electric field. The šC hydrogels showed monotonic increases in the static bending distance and dielectrophoretic force with increasing electric field strength. Above the critical electrical field strengths, the ribbonālike šC hydrogels oscillated back and forth due to the competition between the dielectrophoresis force, the resisting elastic force, the weight and the inertia force. Stability diagrams were constructed for the first time separating static bending from oscillation behavior under constant applied electric fields. Ā© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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