Technology efficiency and promotion mechanism on the response output performance of a biomimetic gelatinous polymer actuator based on different process approaches

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, from different aspects of internal material composition, biomass modification method and assembly process factor of the biomimetic gelatinous polymer actuator (BGPA), its three process approaches including ionic liquid (IL, [EMIm]BF4) doping amount, sodium alginate (SA) ‐ carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) crosslinking ratio and casting assembly temperature were comprehensively compared, and accordingly their technology efficiency and promotion mechanism on response output performance of the BGPA had also been fully researched. The results suggested that under monotonic work cycle, when the IL doping amount was 4 ml, operating life of BGPA reached the maximum of 1720 s and its smallest tremor amplitude was 8.51%. When the SA‐CMCS crosslinking ratio was 5:5, all three evaluation indexes of the duty cycle, internal resistance and elastic modulus of BGPA achieved the minima around 0.97%, 1.61 Ω and 0.207 MPa, respectively. When the casting assembly temperature was 50°C, specific capacitance and output force density of the BGPA separately obtained the largest values of 551.34 mF/g and 16.249 mN/g. Within the cycle repetition period, the best stable output force of the BGPA was approximately 2.877 mN with 4 ml ionic liquid, and its optimal electron current was 12.771 mA at 50°C.