Electrothermally actuated network metamaterials with reconfigurable bending deformation modes

Extreme Mechanics Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 72, С. 102241 - 102241

Опубликована: Окт. 10, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Liquid Crystal Polycaprolactone Copolymer Elastomer With Low Autonomous Driving Temperature

Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 15, 2025

ABSTRACT Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are liquid polymers with moderate crosslinking that exhibit elasticity in both their isotropic and states. These materials can be programmed through chemical design geometric configuration to achieve autonomous actuation at specific temperatures. Typically, the temperature of LCEs exceeds phase transition states, most reported requiring temperatures above 100°C. Such high pose challenges for use soft robotics due increased energy consumption limited operational flexibility. In this study, we introduce a small amount polycaprolactone (PCL) into main chain LCEs, effectively lowering while maintaining over 90% reversible shrinkage strain characteristic pure LCEs. By adjusting PCL content, number twists, helix density, successfully obtained an LCE‐PCL actuator improved performance ranging from 45°C 105°C. Moreover, by modulating degree torsion operating temperature, demonstrates ability perform complex motions, such as reversing parking. This work offers new insights application reduced enhanced self‐driving capabilities.

Язык: Английский

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The Light-Fueled Stable Self-Rolling of a Liquid Crystal Elastomer-Based Wheel

Polymers, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 17(4), С. 436 - 436

Опубликована: Фев. 7, 2025

Self-excited systems rely on stable external stimuli to initiate and sustain oscillations via internal processes. However, these can compromise system stability increase friction, limiting their practical applications. To overcome this issue, we propose the light-fueled self-rolling of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)-based wheel. A photothermal response model based an LCE was used analyze temperature distribution within rods. The driving torque for is generated by contraction resulting from LCE's response, which displaces wheel's center mass. We then derived equilibrium equations identified critical conditions achieving motion. Through interaction between field torque, wheel achieves continuous absorbing thermal energy counteract damping dissipation. Numerical simulations revealed that velocity influenced several key parameters, including heat flux, coefficient, gravitational acceleration, initial rolling coefficient. proposed LCE-based enhances significantly reduces frictional losses. These characteristics make it promising candidate applications in autonomous drive systems, micro-transportation devices, conversion technologies.

Язык: Английский

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Generation of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fibers via a Wet Spinning Technology with Two-Stage Crosslinking

Polymers, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 17(4), С. 494 - 494

Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2025

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are a promising material to achieve reversible actuation while being able perform work, showing great potential as artificial muscles in soft robotics and medical technology. Here, wet spinning process prepare liquid elastomer fibers (LCEF) with capability is presented. Furthermore, we demonstrate the ability side-chain (LC) 4-Methoxyphenyl 4-(3-butenyloxy)benzoate (MBB) into fiber, enlarging variance available this field. The presented discussed terms of parameters their influence on fiber properties, especially LC orientation. Moderate draw ratios up 2.3 enable highly oriented mesogens (f = 0.64), enabling contractile behavior. generated MBB-based LCEF show low activation temperature (54.52 °C), temperature-dependent mechanical contraction behavior lifting 140 times own weight work 3.857 J kg-1. Actuation properties compared human skeletal muscle, possible strategies further enhancing performance discussed. data features for use muscle applications, e.g., prosthetics cardiac tissue.

Язык: Английский

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3D Printing of Near-Ambient Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Enhanced Nematic Order and Pluralized Transformation

ACS Nano, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2025

Liquid crystal elastomers with near-ambient temperature-responsiveness (NAT-LCEs) have been extensively studied for building biocompatible, low-power consumption devices and robotics. However, conventional manufacturing methods face limitations in programmability (e.g., molding) or low nematic order DIW printing). Here, a hybrid cooling strategy is proposed programmable three-dimensional (3D) printing of NAT-LCEs enhanced order, intricate shape forming, morphing capability. By integrating low-temperature nozzle platform into 3D printer, the resulting temperature field synergistically facilitates mesogen alignment during extrusion disruption-free ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking. This method achieves 3000% higher than fabricated using traditional room printing. Enabled by shifting transition printing, printed sheets spontaneously turn structures after release from platform, exhibiting bidirectional deformation heating cooling. adjusting plate temperatures, graded properties can be morphing. A wristband system heart rate monitoring also developed based on 3D-printed NAT-LCE. Our developments soft robotics, biomedical devices, wearable electronics.

Язык: Английский

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Autonomous Soft Robots: Self-regulation, Self-sustained, and Recovery Strategies

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 27, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Light-fueled self-ejecting liquid crystal elastomer launcher inspired by lizard tail autotomy

Chaos Solitons & Fractals, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 194, С. 116265 - 116265

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Rolling of stimuli-bent cylindrical robots using contact finite element simulations

Soft Matter, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Stimuli-bent cylinders roll continuously on a surface. The 1st FEA of the rolling nonmechanically bent cylinders. A pseudo-thermal field method for eigenstrain in FEA. Reproduces several modes autonomous locomotion observed experimentally.

Язык: Английский

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Light-powered self-striking liquid crystal elastomer hammers inspired by mantis shrimp

Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 108802 - 108802

Опубликована: Март 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Synchronous differential orientation of liquid crystal elastomers based on dual dynamic covalent bonds

Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

A synchronous differential orientation strategy was proposed for the fabrication of programmable liquid crystal elastomers with aid dual dynamic covalent bonds, which are composed boronic ester bonds and siloxane bonds.

Язык: Английский

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