Abstract
Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) actuators have garnered significant scientific attention in robotics and artificial muscles for their ability to operate at low voltage, high strain capacity, and lightweight construction. The lack of uniform bending in IPMC actuators undermines their control precision and restricts their range of potential applications. This study utilized the unique properties of nanoscale materials and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a membrane for soft robotic bending actuation. Subsequently, a platinum coating was applied to the membrane to mitigate the limitations of IPMCs in soft robotics applications. Herein, mechanized agitation was employed during the solution-casting process to enhance platinum metal (Pt-metal) coating on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures within a PVA- sulphonated graphene oxide nanocomposite, achieving enhanced soft robotics bending actuation capabilities. The resultant membrane composed of sulphonated-graphene oxide and polyvinyl-zinc oxide coated with pt (PsGZ-Pt) was examined by exploring advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Furthermore, the ionic exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity (PC), water uptake and water loss characteristics were evaluated to be 2.1 meq. g-1, 1.95 × 10-3 Scm-1, 59.62% at 45 °C and water loss at 9 min immersion found 38%, respectively. Electromechanical studies of the PsGZ-Pt membrane (size 30 mm length, 10 mm width, 0.07 mm thickness) showed an actuation force of 0.3253 mN and a displacement of roughly 22.8 mm at ± 3 VDC. These findings highlighted the PsGZ-Pt membrane's potential as a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial IPMC actuators based on polymers. These results presented a straightforward, low-cost approach for synthesizing PsGZ-Pt utilizing conventional technologies. The PsGZ-Pt membrane shows promise for generating low-cost, high-performance actuation materials with a wide range of industrial applications.