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Tailoring conductive nanofiller alignment for high actuation strain and output force in electroactive polymers

Author

Listed:
  • Fengwan Zhao

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Micro‑ and Nanotechnology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering)

  • Jie Zhang

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Electronic Materials Research Laboratory, Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education & International Center for Dielectric Research, School of Electronic Science and Engineering)

  • Hongmiao Tian

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Micro‑ and Nanotechnology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering)

  • Ruiyao Zhu

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, XJTU-POLIMI Joint School of Design and Innovation)

  • Leyi Sun

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, XJTU-POLIMI Joint School of Design and Innovation)

  • Wencong Dou

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, XJTU-POLIMI Joint School of Design and Innovation)

  • Hansen Chen

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Micro‑ and Nanotechnology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering)

  • Zuo-Guang Ye

    (Simon Fraser University, Department of Chemistry and 4D LABS)

  • Chenglin Yi

    (Northwestern Polytechnical University, School of Mechanical Engineering)

  • Xiaoming Chen

    (Xi’an Jiaotong University, Micro‑ and Nanotechnology Research Center, State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems Engineering
    Xi’an Jiaotong University, XJTU-POLIMI Joint School of Design and Innovation
    Xi’an Jiaotong University, School of Future Technology)

Abstract

An intrinsic conflict between high deformability and rigidity hinders the development of electroactive polymer (EAP)-based soft robots. Here, we employ an external electric field to align Al2O3-coated carbon nanotubes (Al2O3@CNTs) in a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE)) matrix. Compared with pure P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), the thickness strain of nanocomposites with horizontally and vertically aligned Al2O3@CNTs increases by 473% and 814%, respectively. It results in a high bending angle up to 215° for their actuator beams. Importantly, the horizontally aligned Al2O3@CNTs enhance the local stiffness via ‘face-enhanced effect’, yielding a high output force per unit volume (1.25 mN/mm3 at 30 V/μm). It is not only ~346% higher than pure P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) but also higher than the reported ceramic actuators. Accordingly, the soft robots made by the designed nanocomposite actuators could climb slopes up to 52° and carry loads equivalent to eight times their body mass. Consequently, this modulating strategy develops a high-performance actuation for soft robots.

Suggested Citation

  • Fengwan Zhao & Jie Zhang & Hongmiao Tian & Ruiyao Zhu & Leyi Sun & Wencong Dou & Hansen Chen & Zuo-Guang Ye & Chenglin Yi & Xiaoming Chen, 2025. "Tailoring conductive nanofiller alignment for high actuation strain and output force in electroactive polymers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-65228-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65228-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Daniela Rus & Michael T. Tolley, 2015. "Design, fabrication and control of soft robots," Nature, Nature, vol. 521(7553), pages 467-475, May.
    2. Wenwen Feng & Lin Sun & Zhekai Jin & Lili Chen & Yuncong Liu & Hao Xu & Chao Wang, 2024. "A large-strain and ultrahigh energy density dielectric elastomer for fast moving soft robot," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
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