Light-Driven Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance for Soft Robots

Area of Science:

• Bionic robotics and materials science.
• Soft robotics and locomotion.
• Photothermal actuation and nanotechnology.

Background:

• Caterpillars exhibit versatile locomotion through structural flexibility and distinct movement modes.
• Developing adaptable bionic robots requires mimicking natural systems for environmental responsiveness.
• Photothermal materials offer potential for untethered soft robot actuation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and investigate a photothermally responsive, untethered caterpillar-inspired soft robot.
• To enhance locomotion capabilities and environmental adaptability in soft robotic systems.
• To explore the use of silver nanowire-infused liquid crystal elastomers for advanced robotic functions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Janus-type soft robot with a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) driver layer containing silver nanowires (AgNWs).
• Integration of the LCE active layer with a polyimide passive layer to enhance deformation.
• Utilized modulated electrospinning to create a 3D AgNW network for high photothermal conversion efficiency.

Main Results:

• The robot achieved rapid, substantial, and reversible deformations due to interlayer mismatch and Janus structure.
• Demonstrated diverse locomotion: crawling (1.5 BL/min), tumbling (1.875 BL/min), and jumping (351 BL/min).
• Showcased adaptive movement across varied terrains (slopes, stones, gravel, grass) and high photothermal conversion efficiency (36.42%).

Conclusions:

• The developed caterpillar-inspired soft robot exhibits versatile and adaptive locomotion in complex environments.
• The photothermal Janus-type soft robot design offers a promising platform for autonomous reconnaissance and customized path planning.
• Advanced fabrication techniques enable efficient photothermal conversion with minimal noble metal content.