Multi-Functional Actuators Made with Biomass-Based Graphene-Polymer Films for Intelligent Gesture Recognition and Multi-Mode Self-Powered Sensing

Multi-functional actuation systems involve the mechanical integration of multiple actuation and sensor devices with external energy sources. The intricate combination makes it difficult to meet the requirements of lightweight. Hence, polypyrrole@graphene-bacterial cellulose (PPy@G-BC) films are proposed to construct multi-responsive and bilayer actuators integrated with multi-mode self-powered sensing function. The PPy@G-BC film not only exhibits good photo-thermoelectric (PTE) properties but also possesses good hydrophilicity and high Young's modulus. Thus, the PPy@G-BC films are used as active layers in multi-responsive bilayer actuators integrated with self-powered sensing functions. Here, two types of multi-functional actuators integrated with self-powered sensing functions is designed. One is a light-driven actuator that realizes the self-powered temperature sensing function through the PTE effect. Assisted by a machine learning algorithm, the self-powered bionic hand can realize intelligent gesture recognition with an accuracy rate of 96.8%. The other is humidity-driven actuators integrated a zinc-air battery, which can realize self-powered humidity sensing. Based on the above advantages, these two multi-functional actuators are ingeniously integrated into a single device, which can simultaneously perform self-powered temperature/humidity sensing while grasping objects. The highly integrated design enables the efficient utilization of environmental energy sources and complementary synergistic monitoring of multiple physical properties without increasing system complexity.