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Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

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

Chen Zhu¹, Lizhi Zhang¹, Yabing Yang¹

¹School of Mechanical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, P. R. China.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces

|December 5, 2024

Summary

Researchers developed a photothermal soft robot inspired by caterpillars. This untethered robot uses silver nanowires and liquid crystal elastomers for versatile movement, including crawling, tumbling, and jumping in complex environments.

Keywords:

bionic soft robot light-driven liquid crystal elastomer multimode continuous motion photothermal conversion rapid response silver nanowire

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Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

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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.