Rapidly and Repeatedly Reprogrammable Liquid Crystalline Elastomer via a Shape Memory Mechanism

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 34(21)

Published: March 31, 2022

Realization of muscle-like actuation for a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) requires mesogen alignment, which is typically achieved/fixed chemically during the synthesis. Post-synthesis regulation alignment in convenient and repeatable manner highly desirable yet challenging. Here, dual-phase LCE network designed synthesized with crystalline melting transition above transition. The phase can serve as an "alignment frame" to fix any mechanical deformation via shape memory mechanism, leading corresponding phase. be erased by melting, starting point reprogramming. This strategy that relies on physical permits repeated reprogramming timescale seconds, stark contrast typical methods. It further leads unusual versatility designing 3D printed unlimited programmable modes.

Language: Английский

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Additive manufacturing of smart polymeric composites: Literature review and future perspectives

Polymer Composites, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43(9), P. 6355 - 6380

Published: Aug. 12, 2022

Abstract The latest developments in smart systems for improved human lives with advanced biomedical devices have evolved out of multi‐disciplinary scientific studies, including medicine, biology, material sciences, design, manufacturing, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, and so forth. growth such intelligent is primarily possible innovative materials, which demonstrate the response to various external stimuli like temperature, heat, moisture, light, electromagnetic field, chemical alteration. Such materials been recently fabricated using different additive manufacturing techniques devise personalized unique, complex, novel structures that can adjust conditions over time are specifically attributed 4D printing. Novel further improve continued be explored employed. This review paper investigates functional polymer nanocomposites, offer compliant flexible processes high strength, low cost, long‐term stability. study aims deliver a comprehensive deep understanding fundamental mechanisms involved, future possibilities this area research.

Language: Английский

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3D printing of magneto-active smart materials for advanced actuators and soft robotics applications

European Polymer Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 205, P. 112718 - 112718

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

In the contemporary era, novel manufacturing technologies like additive (AM) have revolutionized different engineering sectors including biomedical, aerospace, electronics, etc. Four-dimensional (4D) printing aka AM of smart materials is gaining popularity among scientific community, which has excellent ability to make soft structures such as robots, actuators, and grippers. These are developed by applying various stimuli pH, temperature, magnetic field, many combinations onto materials. Stimuli in 3D permit shape-morphing behaviors bending, twisting, folding, swelling, rolling, shrinking, origami, or locomotion. A wide variety can be fabricated through incorporation hard particles into resulting magneto-active (MASMs). With this integration, magneto-thermal coupling actuation allows diverse magneto-deformations, facilitating development personalized devices that capable enhanced deformation. review, guidelines provided on for MASMs polymers (MAPs), composites, hydrogels (MAHs) booming flexible wearable biomimetic devices. Moreover, 3D-printed robotics an outstanding capacity adapt complicated situations advanced actuating applications. Finally, some current challenges emerging areas exciting technology been proposed. Lastly, it anticipated technological advancements developing intelligent will a significant impact design real-world

Language: Английский

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Scalable functionalized liquid crystal elastomer fiber soft actuators with multi-stimulus responses and photoelectric conversion

Materials Horizons, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(7), P. 2587 - 2598

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fibers exhibit large deformation and reversibility, making them an ideal candidate for soft actuators. It is still challenging to develop a scalable strategy endow fiber actuators with photoelectric functions achieve tailorable photo-electro-thermal responsiveness rapid actuation deformation. Herein, we fabricated multiresponsive actuator that consists of LCE long obtained by continuous dry spinning further coated it polydopamine (PDA)-modified MXene ink. The designed PDA@MXene-integrated used shape-deformable multi-trigger can be photo- electro-thermally actuated. proposed combines excellent photothermal long-term electrically conductive PDA@MXene shape-morphing fiber, enabling their robust mechanical flexibility, multiple fast responses (∼0.4 s), stable (∼60%). As proof-of-concept, present near-infrared light-driven artificial muscle lift 1000 times the weight intelligent circuit switch controllability (∼0.1 s). Importantly, adaptive smart window system integrates energy harvesting/conversion ingeniously constructed integration propellable curtain woven solar cells. This work provide insights into development advanced materials toward robotics, sustainable savings beyond.

Language: Английский

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Pangolin-inspired untethered magnetic robot for on-demand biomedical heating applications

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: June 20, 2023

Abstract Untethered magnetic miniature soft robots capable of accessing hard-to-reach regions can enable safe, disruptive, and minimally invasive medical procedures. However, the body limits integration non-magnetic external stimuli sources on robot, thereby restricting functionalities such robots. One functionality is localised heat generation, which requires solid metallic materials for increased efficiency. Yet, using these compromises compliance safety To overcome competing requirements, we propose a pangolin-inspired bi-layered robot design. We show that reported design achieves heating > 70 °C at large distances 5 cm within short period time <30 s, allowing users to realise on-demand in tandem with shape-morphing capabilities. demonstrate advanced robotic functionalities, as selective cargo release, situ demagnetisation, hyperthermia mitigation bleeding, tissue phantoms ex vivo tissues.

Language: Английский

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In situ sensing physiological properties of biological tissues using wireless miniature soft robots

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(23)

Published: June 7, 2023

Implanted electronic sensors, compared with conventional medical imaging, allow monitoring of advanced physiological properties soft biological tissues continuously, such as adhesion, pH, viscoelasticity, and biomarkers for disease diagnosis. However, they are typically invasive, requiring being deployed by surgery, frequently cause inflammation. Here we propose a minimally invasive method using wireless miniature robots to in situ sense the tissues. By controlling robot-tissue interaction external magnetic fields, visualized can recover tissue precisely from robot shape fields. We demonstrate that traverse multimodal locomotion viscoelasticity on porcine mice gastrointestinal ex vivo, tracked x-ray or ultrasound imaging. With unprecedented capability sensing minimal invasion high resolution deep inside our body, this technology potentially enable critical applications both basic research clinical practice.

Language: Английский

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A 3D‐Printed Ferromagnetic Liquid Crystal Elastomer with Programmed Dual‐Anisotropy and Multi‐Responsiveness

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(45)

Published: July 12, 2023

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) and magnetic soft materials are promising active in many emerging fields, such as robotics. Despite the high demand for developing that combine advantages of LCE actuation, lack independent programming nematic order magnetization a single material still hinders desired multi-responsiveness. In this study, ferromagnetic (magLCE) ink with is developed can be independently programmed to anisotropic, referred "dual anisotropy", via customized 3D-printing platform. The magLCE fabricated by dispersing microparticles matrix, platform created integrating magnet 3-DoF motion into an extrusion-based 3D printer. addition magLCEs also actuated heating sources (either environmental or photo-heating embedded microparticles) energy density tunable actuation temperature. A strip robot demonstrated enhanced adaptability complex environments (different terrains, temperatures) using multi-actuation strategy. has potential applications mechanical memory, multistable metastructure array remote writability stable memory.

Language: Английский

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Recent Progress on the Development of Magnetically‐Responsive Micropillars: Actuation, Fabrication, and Applications

Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(14)

Published: Jan. 15, 2023

Abstract Stimuli‐responsive micro‐pillared structures can perform complex and precise tasks at the microscale through dynamic reversible deformation of pillars in response to external triggers. Magnetic field is one most common actuation strategies due its incomparable advantages such as instantaneous response, remote nondestructive control, superior biocompatibility. Over past decade, many researches are attempted design optimize magnetically‐responsive micropillars for a wide range applications great progresses accomplished. In this review, important aspects recent progress covered give comprehensive systematical introduction new field, from mechanisms, fabrication methods, patterns practical applications. The increasingly maturing techniques provide low‐cost large‐scale magnetic with homogeneous responses. Some advanced developed fabricate programmable reprogrammable responses site‐specific reconfigurable actuations. On other hand, particle/droplet/light manipulation, flow generation, miniature swimming/climbing/carrying microrobots, tunable adhesion, cellular probe, fog collector, anti‐ice surfaces also summarized. Finally, current challenges that limit industrial implementation discussed authors’ perspectives on future directions stated.

Language: Английский

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Multimodal Soft Robotic Actuation and Locomotion

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(19)

Published: Feb. 2, 2024

Diverse and adaptable modes of complex motion observed at different scales in living creatures are challenging to reproduce robotic systems. Achieving dexterous movement conventional robots can be difficult due the many limitations applying rigid materials. Robots based on soft materials inherently deformable, compliant, adaptable, adjustable, making robotics conducive creating machines with complicated actuation gaits. This review examines mechanisms modalities deformation that respond various stimuli. Then, strategies composite considered build toward actuators combine multiple for sophisticated movements. Examples across literature illustrate development as free-moving, entirely soft-bodied locomotion gaits via careful manipulation external The further highlights how application functional into components enhances their locomotive abilities. Finally, taking advantage shape-morphing properties materials, reconfigurable have shown capacity adaptive enable transition environments optimal efficiency. Overall, varied multimodal robots, positioning make real-world applications intricate tasks.

Language: Английский

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Multimodal Autonomous Locomotion of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Soft Robot

Advanced Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(23)

Published: March 23, 2024

Abstract Self‐oscillation phenomena observed in nature serve as extraordinary inspiration for designing synthetic autonomous moving systems. Converting self‐oscillation into designable self‐sustained locomotion can lead to a new generation of soft robots that require minimal/no external control. However, such is typically constrained single mode dictated by the constant surrounding environment. In this study, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) robot capable achieving multimodal locomotion, with specific motion being controlled via substrate adhesion or remote light stimulation presented. Specifically, LCE mechanically trained undergo repeated snapping actions ensure its rolling gradient thermal field atop hotplate. By further fine‐tuning adhesion, exhibits reversible transitions between and jumping modes. addition, be manipulated real time through perform other diverse motions including turning, decelerating, stopping, backing up, steering around complex obstacles. The principle introducing an on‐demand gate control offers venue future robots.

Language: Английский

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