Bioinspired Artificial Muscles Based on Sodium Alginate-Wrapped Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Molybdenum Disulfide Composite Electrode Membrane

Abstract

Using a naturally extracted polymer sodium alginate extracted from natural seaweed as the primary raw material, we have successfully developed an electroactive actuator known as biomimetic artificial muscle (BMAM). In comparison to conventional synthetic materials, this BMAM aligns more coherently with the prevailing principles of environmentally friendly development. During the preparation of the BMAM electrode membrane, we employed ultrasonic oscillation to adsorb varying quantities of MoS2 onto a reticulated structure formed by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), thus enhancing the mechanical and electrochemical performance of the BMAM. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful encapsulation of MoS2 by the MWCNTs network in the composite. To measure the output force of the BMAM fabricated with different masses of MoS2 doping, we established a self-built experimental platform and conducted tests on the electrode membranes doped with varying quantities of MoS2 using an electrochemical workstation. The results revealed that the BMAM exhibited optimal mechanical performance when doped with 1.5 g of MoS2, with a maximum output force of 7.81 mN, an output force density of 34.36 mN/g, and a response rate of 0.09 mN/s. These performances were improved by 309%, 276%, and 175%, respectively, compared to the samples without MoS2 doping, with a mass-specific capacitance enhancement of 151%.