Graphene Electrodes for Artificial Muscles

Reduced graphene oxides (RGOs) thin films were fabricated in order to apply for the compliant electrodes of artificial muscles. The RGO was chemically prepared by chemical oxidation of natural graphite via Hummers method and following reduction using hydrazine. The RGO electrodes were coated on both sides of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) by using spray coater. The resulting PDMS dielectric elastomers with RGO electrodes had larger electromechanical strain response than those with conventional carbon paste electrodes. It might be caused by higher conductivity and higher flexibility of RGO than those of conventional electrodes.