Dual-Responsive Soft Actuator Based on Aligned Carbon Nanotube Composite/Graphene Bimorph for Bioinspired Applications

Nanocarbon-based polymer actuators have attracted significant attention because of their excellent actuation performance. In this study, a soft bimorph actuator composed of an anisotropic carbon nanotube (CNT)–polymer composite and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) film is fabricated by a simple blade-coating method. Owing to the excellent electrical, optical, and thermal properties of the CNT and rGO, the actuator exhibits dual-responsive actuation. It generates reversible bending deformation with a displacement of ≈13 mm under low electrical voltage stimulation or white light irradiation. Furthermore, because of the embedment of aligned CNTs in polymer matrix, this actuator exhibits excellent mechanical output compared with many of the reported nanocarbon-based actuators. It can lift a 2.048 g clip to a height of ≈5 mm under low electrical voltage stimulation. Based on this soft actuator with dual response and good mechanical output, various bionic devices are designed. A bionic eagle claw that grasps a soft object under electrical stimulation and an artificial flower blooming in response to light irradiation are constructed. Moreover, a light-driven smart curtain and a seagull robot are fabricated. These results reveal the great potential of the dual-responsive anisotropic soft actuator in soft robots and smart devices driven by electricity and light.