The effect of electroactive length and intrinsic conductivity on the actuation behaviour of conducting polymer-based yarn actuators for textile muscles

Recently, electrically driven conducting polymer (CP) coated yarns have shown great promise to develop soft wearable applications because of their electrical and mechanical behaviour. However, designing a suitable yarn actuator for textile-based wearables with high strain is challenging. One reason the low voltage drop along yarn, which results in only part being active. To understand mechanism overcome this issue intrinsically conductive were used create highly path full length actuator. Ag plated knit-de-knit (Ag-KDK) structured polyamide as core material CP actuators compared made non-conductive (KDK) yarn. The fabricated by coating poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonic acid) followed electrochemical polymerization polypyrrole. Furthermore, elucidate effect capillarity electrolyte through actuator, two different approaches actuation applied. All actuating performance materials investigated quantified terms both isotonic displacement isometric developed forces. resultant electroactive exhibits (0.64 %) NaDBS electrolytes previous electroactivity retained up 100 cycles. new will shed light on development next-generation exoskeleton suits, assistive devices, wearables, haptics garments.