Graphene-Based Moisture Actuator with Oriented Microstructures Prepared by One-Step Laser Reduction for Accurately Controllable Responsive Direction and Position

Abstract

Actuators with fast and precise controllable responses are highly in demand for implementing agilely accurate mechanical movements in smart robots, intelligent sensors, biomimetic devices, and so on. Here, we report a graphene-based moisture actuator with accurately controllable direction and position responses achieved by a fast, controlled, and even programmable one-step laser reduction method. The laser reduction-induced oriented microstructures help to precisely guide the direction and location of the moisture response in graphene-based Janus films. The excellent moisture–mechanical response behaviors in these novel moisture actuators originate from the Janus structures and the periodic microstructures of a line-scanned layer. Our customized complex intelligent devices such as drums, bands, and three-dimensional wave humidity drives can highly match and verify the finite element simulations, which will inspire the creation of further smart robot designs for accurate deformation.

MXene-Based Soft Humidity-Driven Actuator with High Sensitivity and Fast Response

“…Humidity-responsive actuators , inspired by biological actuation systems have garnered significant interest to researchers for their simple stimulation, environmentally friendly nature, renewable actuation capabilities, and water vapor conversion to mechanical energy. Currently, hydrophilic 2D materials are highly favored for the fabrication of soft humidity-responsive actuators − due to the abundance of oxygen-containing groups (such as -O and −OH) on their surfaces and the inherent intralayer space. MXene, in particular, exhibits excellent humidity responsiveness attributed to its hygroscopic swelling, enabling unidirectional and reversible bending of MXene films toward the side with fewer water molecules.…”