Centimeter-Scale Bulk Liquid Crystal Elastomer Artificial Muscle with Strong Mechanical Properties and Designable...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics Engineering
• Soft Matter Physics

Background:

• Artificial muscles are crucial for advanced robotics, mimicking biological movements.
• Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) offer programmable 3D shape-morphing but are limited in thickness (100 μm).
• Current LCE limitations restrict their driving capabilities and practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop centimeter-scale bulk LCE (CBLCE) artificial muscles.
• To overcome the thickness limitations of existing LCE artificial muscles.
• To enhance the driving capability and mechanical properties of LCE-based artificial muscles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of centimeter-scale bulk LCE (CBLCE) via a two-step crosslinking process.
• Characterization of mechanical properties, including actuation strain and modulus.
• Evaluation of shape-morphing capabilities and output performance.

Main Results:

• Developed centimeter-scale CBLCE artificial muscles with dimensions up to centimeter-scale.
• Achieved 37.5% actuation strain, comparable to human skeletal muscles.
• Demonstrated superior mechanical properties: 24 MPa modulus, high energy density, and significant output capability (3624x gravity).
• Exhibited designable complex 3D shape-morphing.

Conclusions:

• Centimeter-scale CBLCE artificial muscles overcome previous thickness limitations.
• These CBLCEs possess exceptional mechanical strength and programmable shape-morphing.
• The developed artificial muscles show significant potential for soft robotics and broader applications.