All-Fiber Volatile Organics-Perceptive Actuators

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• Soft robots offer potential for dynamic hazard detection through volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing.
• Integrating VOC-responsive actuation with autonomous perception in soft robots remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel material and actuator for simultaneous visual and electrical perception of VOCs.
• To create a VOC-responsive soft robot capable of autonomous hazard detection and response.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized a solvatophore-induced solvatochromic-piezoelectric material by modifying palygorskite-enhanced polyvinylidene difluoride with a solvatochromic molecule.
• Fabricated a VOC-responsive all-fiber actuator exhibiting solvatochromic and piezoelectric properties.
• Demonstrated cooperative visual and electrical perception of volatile organics.

Main Results:

• The actuator showed bidirectional bending, stable color change, and characteristic piezoelectric output upon exposure to VOCs.
• Achieved a large bending curvature (4.63 cm⁻¹) and ultrafast response speed (4.36 cm⁻¹ s⁻¹).
• Demonstrated excellent stability over 1500 actuation cycles without fatigue, with synchronous piezoelectric output reflecting actuation conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed solvatochromic-piezoelectric actuator enables effective identification of VOC type and concentration.
• The VOC-triggered soft robot exhibits stable motion and autonomous environmental perception.
• Presents a versatile visual-electronic VOC detection strategy for safety, health, and environmental protection, inspiring new responsive fiber materials.