Soft Robotic Actuation Facilitated by Polypyrrole Coated-Sulfonated Polyvinyl Alcohol-Graphene Oxide-ZnO Network-Based Nanocomposite Membranes

This study presents the synthesis of polypyrrole coated over sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol and graphene oxide-nanosized ZnO network-based nanocomposite actuators ( SPVA/GO/ZnO-Nps/PPy ). The solution casting approach was used to create the membrane. HO 3 SC 6 H 3 -1,2-(CO 2 H) 2 was used as a sulfonating agent during the sulfonation process of polyvinyl alcohol. A polypyrrole coating is done on a sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol and graphene oxide-nanosized ZnO network substrate using an aqueous chemico-oxidation polymerization process with in-situ polypyrrole synthesis. The consistent network that can block water loss was also revealed using scanning electron microscopy. An adequate ion-exchange potential of 1.79 meq g −1 was demonstrated by the dry membrane sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol graphene oxide-nanosized ZnO networks with polypyrrole coatings. It was observed that the membrane’s absorption capacity at 45 °C was around 80.45% after roughly 24 h of dousing. Excellent proton conductivity of 1.69 × 10 −3 Scm −1 was observed by the polypyrrole coating of the nanocomposite membrane. The membrane’s capacity to lose water was estimated to be around 37.8% for 10 min, at 6 V. In addition, at 4 V, the electro-mechanical characterization revealed a maximum tip displacement of 15.5 mm. In comparison to earlier published expensive polymer-based membranes, the claimed nanocomposite membrane improved water-absorption, ion-exchange capacity, and ionic-conductivity enhanced the electrical characteristics with good performance of tip deflection. The development of a microgripper based on a polypyrrole coated over sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol and graphene oxide-nanosized ZnO network-based nanocomposites membrane ( SPVA/GO/ZnO-Nps/PPy ) has a lot of potential for use as soft robotic actuators.