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Multicoating Nanoarchitectonics for Facile Preparation of Multi-Responsive Paper Actuators
Wei Wang1,2, Yang Zhang3, Yong-Lai Zhang1
1State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province 130012, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|June 3, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed low-cost, multi-responsive paper actuators capable of complex movements. These stimuli-responsive actuators harvest environmental energy, overcoming limitations of current technologies for diverse applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive actuators (SRAs) offer potential for robotics by converting environmental energy to mechanical work.
- Current SRAs face limitations in responsiveness, deformation complexity, and scalable, cost-effective production.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate multi-responsive paper actuators with complex deformation capabilities.
- To enable large-scale, low-cost production of advanced actuators.
Main Methods:
- Developed multi-coating nanoarchitectonics on common paper via a simple painting process.
- Created a paper/graphite/polydimethylsiloxane sandwich structure.
- Programmed bending deformation by controlling pencil drawing orientation.
Main Results:
- Fabricated large-scale (A4 size, ~$0.5) and low-cost paper actuators.
- Demonstrated multi-stimuli responsiveness (moisture, temperature, light, VOCs).
- Achieved complex deformations and showcased functional prototypes like crawling and attitude-control actuators.
Conclusions:
- Developed cost-effective, multi-responsive paper actuators with complex deformation abilities.
- These actuators overcome limitations of current SRAs, paving the way for practical applications.
- Potential applications include soft micro-electromechanical systems, lab-on-a-chip, smart homes, and robotics.
