MXene/Cellulose Nanofibers Composite-Based Multiresponsive Soft Actuator for Programmable Soft Robots

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Robotics Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Flexible actuators are crucial for soft robots, enabling energy conversion into mechanical motion.
• Existing actuators face challenges in multistimulus responsiveness, shape programmability, and mechanical stability for complex environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel multiresponsive and programmable bilayer actuator.
• To overcome limitations of current actuators in terms of responsiveness, programmability, and stability.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bilayer actuator using MXene/cellulose nanofibers (MXC) composite film and biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) tape.
• Leveraging hygroscopic, photothermal, and electrothermal properties of MXC, and thermal expansion of BOPP for actuation.
• Employing pattern design and macroscopic reassembly for programmable 2D-to-3D deformations.

Main Results:

• The actuator demonstrated reversible, large-angle, and stable bending under humidity, light, and electrical stimuli.
• Achieved programmable complex deformations by combining pattern design and reassembly strategies.
• Successfully developed proof-of-concept soft robots, including a biomimetic leaf, smart gripper, and crawling beetle robot.

Conclusions:

• The developed MXC/BOPP bilayer actuator offers enhanced multi-stimulus responsiveness and shape programmability.
• This actuator design holds significant potential for advancing the capabilities and applications of next-generation soft robotics.