High-frequency and rapid response tungsten sulfide nano onion-based electrochemical actuators

Poor rate capability, the biggest barrier to potential applications of electrochemical actuators (ECAs), is primarily resulted from symmetric electrochemical reactions. This makes it extremely difficult for ECAs to actuate above 1 Hz while maintaining sufficient displacement retainability compared with their actuations at relatively low frequencies, particularly when working in liquids. Here, tungsten trisulfide (WS₃) assisted tungsten disulfide nano onions are synthesized through a one-step laser-assisted strategy. Using the irreversibility of WS₃ in adsorbing hydrogen in an acidic solution, the electrochemical reaction of tungsten sulfide nano onions is tailored to realize an asymmetric redox reaction for breaking the symmetry of the electrical double layer and battery-like process. Experiments demonstrate that the ECA's response rate (0.24 mm^-1 s^-1) is at least 10 times faster than that of the previously reported ECAs. Moreover, this ECA can actuate at 30 Hz and reaches top performance in liquids at 4 Hz with long-term durability (>90% after 23 000 cycles), which is comparable to that of electromagnetic and electrothermal actuators. To understand the electrochemical actuation of tungsten sulfide from the atomic scale to the macroscopic scale, density functional theory calculations are conducted and an electrochemomechanical coupling model is proposed. A new generation of subvolt electric-driven actuators used in underwater robotics can be developed by modulating the electrochemical response and chemomechanical coupling effect.