Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties for Silver Nanoparticles-Sodium Alginate Bio-Composites Electroactive Actuator

The engineering application of electrically responsive hydrogels is restricted by its hysteretic response as well as relatively small bending force and displacement. In this study, with macromolecular polysaccharide substance sodium alginate as the matrix, conductive nanoparticles were introduced to prepare a novel two-component flexible nanocomposites electroactive actuator using the vacuum drying method. First of all, the electroactive actuator was prepared with different dosage concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Secondly, the bending force and displacement testing devices were used to quantitively analyze the electroactive properties of samples with different dosage concentrations of AgNPs, e.g. bending force, deformability and response speed. Thirdly, the electrochemical method was applied to explore the variation pattern of the samples’ electroactive properties based on parameters such as specific capacitance and resistance. Fourthly, the tensile strength, elongation break and modulus of elasticity of the materials were studied based on a microanalysis and an analysis of the materials’ mechanical characteristics. The results show that the silver–sodium alginate nanocomposites electroactive actuator, with excellent electroactive characteristics, bending force and displacement, is applicable to biological electronic devices and micro electro mechanical systems. Fabrication processes of a conductive actuating membrane. (a) Schematic diagram of the fabrication steps for actuating membrane. (b) Schematic diagram of ion movement. (c) Premix of SA–AgNPs