Multi-stimuli-responsive programmable biomimetic actuator

Abstract

Untethered small actuators have various applications in multiple fields. However, existing small-scale actuators are very limited in their intractability with their surroundings, respond to only a single type of stimulus and are unable to achieve programmable structural changes under different stimuli. Here, we present a multiresponsive patternable actuator that can respond to humidity, temperature and light, via programmable structural changes. This capability is uniquely achieved by a fast and facile method that was used to fabricate a smart actuator with precise patterning on a graphene oxide film by hydrogel microstamping. The programmable actuator can mimic the claw of a hawk to grab a block, crawl like an inchworm, and twine around and grab the rachis of a flower based on their geometry. Similar to the large- and small-scale robots that are used to study locomotion mechanics, these small-scale actuators can be employed to study movement and biological and living organisms.

Plasmonic‐Assisted Graphene Oxide Films with Enhanced Photothermal Actuation for Soft Robots

“…Recently, diverse small soft robotics have been developed by mimicking living species,1,2 wherein soft actuator is the key component to realize all kinds of motions. Up to now, several materials have demonstrated the ability of soft actuators based on different driving mechanisms, including but not limited to electric, magnetic, thermal, chemical, and optical fields 3–10. Among all these methods, optical driving exhibits high adjustability because the material can be selectively triggered by light spot remotely without electromagnetic disturbance 11–16.…”

Polarization‐Modulated Multidirectional Photothermal Actuators

“…[ 2a,15 ] Bioinspired soft robots are more often designed into asymmetric shapes to mimic specific movements of natural creatures. [ 16 ] These strategies have advantages of easy fabrication, simple actuation, and a low requirement on light source yet are limited to providing one‐way movement, which makes it challenging to realize the bionic functionalities. Extending the movement degrees of freedom can be achieved by precisely controlling the irradiation position or the scanning direction of light.…”

Interfacial Fabrication of CNTs/PVDF Bilayer Actuator with Fast Responses to the Light and Organic Solvent Vapor Stimuli

“…Recently, multistimuli responsive actuators have been developed by virtue of soft polymer materials and functional inorganic nanomaterials, to mimic biological systems possessing heterogeneous mechanical properties. [ 1,2 ] These kinds of actuators can convert external stimuli such as light, [ 3 ] heat, [ 4,5 ] electrical, [ 6 ] and organic vapors [ 7 ] to mechanical energy and show reversible dimension changes. To achieve controllably actuation, it is significant to integrate the active materials with assistant inertia materials.…”