From Filter Paper to Functional Actuator by Poly(ionic liquid)-Modified Graphene Oxide

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel stimuli-responsive bilayer actuator created by depositing poly(ionic liquid)-modified graphene oxide on filter paper, enabling rapid, reversible bending in response to organic vapor stimuli with improved durability.

Contribution

It introduces a new bilayer actuator combining GO-PIL and filter paper, demonstrating enhanced adhesion, durability, and actuation performance compared to previous designs.

Findings

The bilayer bends into multiple loops quickly in acetone vapor.

The actuator recovers its original shape in air after bending.

Enhanced adhesion due to PIL improves lifetime and force transfer.

Abstract

A commercially available membrane filter paper composed of mixed cellulose esters bearing typically an interconnected pore structure was transformed into a stimuli-responsive bilayer actuator by depositing a thin film of poly(ionic liquid)-modified graphene oxide sheets (GO-PIL) onto the filter paper. In acetone vapor, the as-synthesized bilayer actuator bent readily into multiple loops at a fast speed with the GO-PIL top film inwards. Upon pulling back into air the actuator recovered their original shape. The asymmetric swelling of the top GO-PIL film and the bottom porous filter paper towards organic vapor offers a favorably synergetic function to drive the actuation. The PIL polymer chains in the hybrid film were proven crucial to enhance the adhesion strength between the GO sheets and the adjacent filter paper to avoid interfacial delamination and thus improve force transfer. The overall construction allows a prolonged lifetime of the bilayer actuator under constant operation, especially when compared to that of the GO/filter paper bilayer actuator without PIL.