Journal
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
Volume 248, Issue -, Pages 657-664Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA
DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.04.009
Keywords
Electrochemical actuators; Low voltages; Anodic electrodeposition; Nickel hydroxide/oxyhydroxides; Artificial muscles; Soft robotics
Funding
- Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region [17206114]
- Kingboard Endowed Professorship in Materials Engineering
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The development of materials capable of actuating at low triggering voltages is crucial for applications such as compact prime movers for soft, micro robots. In this paper, the electrochemical actuation of Ni(OH)(2)/NiOOH in alkaline environment at low voltages is demonstrated and studied for the first time. Specifically, sub-micron layers of Ni(OH)(2)/NiOOH deposited on Ni films a few microns thick by anodic electrodeposition were found to undergo reversible contraction by similar to 0.1% in an alkaline solution under a low voltage of only similar to 0.4 V, causing a 5-mm long bi-layer actuator to bend by similar to 3.5 mm at its end, giving a large device strain of similar to 70%. The actuation mechanism is found to be due to a redox reaction in the Ni(OH)(2)/NiOOH couple. By masked electrodeposition, successful fabrication of actuators of various shapes and actuation performance was also demonstrated. The required electrolyte can be packaged with the actuating material to achieve a stand-alone actuating device. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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