Flexible and Super-Sensitive Moisture-Responsive Actuators by Dispersing Graphene Oxide into Three-Dimensional Structures of Nanofibers and Silver Nanowires

Smart actuators with excellent flexibility, sensitive responsiveness, large-scale bending-deformation, and rapid deformation-recovery performance have been sought after by researchers. Two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) is considered as an ideal candidate for humidity-responsive actuators because of its excellent moisture sensitivity. Herein, a flexible membrane-based actuator was prepared by evenly dispersing GO sheets into a three-dimensional network formed by one-dimensional PVA-co-PE nanofibers (NFs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The three-dimensional interlaced pore structure of the AgNWs/NFs/GO composite membrane ensured its larger contact area (19.33 m2/g), faster moisture exchange rate, and large bending deformation under moisture stimulation. In addition, a new explanation for the spatial distribution of adsorbed water molecules and their actuating effect on the bending behaviors of composite membranes is proposed. The adsorbed water lies between the interlayer and surface layer of the composite...