Photothermal actuated origamis based on graphene oxide-cellulose programmable bilayers

Area of Science:

• Soft robotics
• Materials science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Stimuli-responsive soft materials offer new possibilities for 3D actuating devices.
• Origami-inspired fabrication provides an alternative to additive manufacturing for creating 3D actuators from planar materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a class of near-infrared (NIR) responsive 3D active origamis.
• To demonstrate precise origami structure control and photothermal actuation using graphene oxide (GO) and ethylene cellulose (EC) bilayers.
• To enable customization of 3D architectures for various robotic functions and create materials with unique properties.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of graphene oxide/ethylene cellulose (GO/EC) bilayers exploiting the nonlinear coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of GO.
• Heterogeneous patterning of GO domains on 2D EC thin films to create complex 3D shapes.
• Utilizing near-infrared (NIR) light for low-temperature-triggered photothermal actuation.

Main Results:

• Development of NIR-responsive 3D active origamis capable of deployment, actuation, and transformation between multistable structural equilibria.
• Precise control over origami structure and rapid, low-temperature-triggered photothermal actuation achieved.
• Demonstration of remotely controlled mechanical metamaterials with auxetic behavior and bionic flowers with rapid blooming rates.

Conclusions:

• This work presents a novel strategy for designing and implementing shape-morphing functions in soft origamis.
• The developed technology enables the creation of advanced soft-bodied actuating devices with customizable 3D architectures.
• The approach opens new avenues for material systems with inaccessible properties and diverse robotic applications.