Magnetic-responsive Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle-impregnated cellulose paper actuators

Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle-infiltrated chromatography paper is prepared using a low-cost blending method. Upon characterizing the basic material properties of the Fe₃O₄/paper nanocomposite, beam-, accordion- and star-shaped actuators are constructed using the nanocomposite and the corresponding actuation performance is investigated experimentally. The beam-shaped actuator exhibits a reversible flexural deformation due to low magnetic hysteresis loop of the Fe₃O₄/paper nanocomposite, maintaining a stable response after 100 cycles. The accordion-shaped actuator can reach a maximum strain of 100% while the star-shaped actuator can capture a spitball twice heavier than itself.