Flexible and Super-Sensitive Moisture-Responsive Actuators by Dispersing Graphene Oxide into Three-Dimensional Structures of Nanofibers and Silver Nanowires

Smart actuators with excellent flexibility, sensitive responsiveness, large-scale bending-deformation, and rapid deformation-recovery performance have been sought after by researchers. Two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) is considered as an ideal candidate for humidity-responsive actuators because of its excellent moisture sensitivity. Herein, a flexible membrane-based actuator was prepared by evenly dispersing GO sheets into a three-dimensional network formed by one-dimensional PVA-co-PE nanofibers (NFs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The three-dimensional interlaced pore structure of the AgNWs/NFs/GO composite membrane ensured its larger contact area (19.33 m2/g), faster moisture exchange rate, and large bending deformation under moisture stimulation. In addition, a new explanation for the spatial distribution of adsorbed water molecules and their actuating effect on the bending behaviors of composite membranes is proposed. The adsorbed water lies between the interlayer and surface layer of the composite membrane. The interlayer water molecules make the film volume expand, resulting in a large bending angle of the membrane. On the other hand, the water on the surface layers of the membrane only leads to the change in film weight, having little effect on the bending behavior. Moreover, to make the soft actuator more practical and multifunctional, a conductive AgNWs-NFs/GO bilayer membrane-based actuator was prepared by layered spraying of a AgNW on the NFs/GO membrane, which can be directly used in switching control circuits. The novel flexible membrane-based actuators are of great significance for the soft robot and intelligent control systems in the future.