Enhanced electromechanical performance of Nafion actuator doped by poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene oxide

Current ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) actuators have severe actuation drawbacks (i.e. low force output and poor stability), hampering their applications. To address these issues, poly(ethylene glycol)-grafted graphene oxide (PEG-GO) is synthesized and incorporated into a Nafion matrix, thus producing a PEG-GO hybrid Nafion film with better physiochemical properties for fabricating a high-performance, low-cost IPMC actuator. The modification of PEG to GO not only prevents GO agglomeration and sedimentation, but also avoids loss of PEG in water. Driven by a 0.2 Hz, 2.5 V electric field, the hybrid IPMC actuator exhibits superior electromechanical behaviors, i.e. a swing angle of 110.3°, a blocking force of 6.89 mN and a stable working time of 485 s, respectively increasing by 92%, 209% and 294% when compared to a pure Nafion actuator. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.