Ultrafast small-scale soft electromagnetic robots

Mao, Guoyong; Schiller, David; Danninger, Doris; Hailegnaw, Bekele; Hartmann, Florian; Stockinger, Thomas; Drack, Michael; Arnold, N.; Kaltenbrunner, Martin

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-32123-4

Cited by 71 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…3 In contrast to this mature technology, many other applications are still in their infancies and are actively investigated. For instance, these alloys are investigated for their applications as a phase-change material (easy-to-reach phase-transition temperature), 4 stretchable conductors for soft electronics and e-skins (due to their electrical conductivity and liquid state), 5 soft robots, 6 a reaction environment, 7 and biomedical applications. 8 Ga and its alloys form an oxide skin once exposed to air (oxygen), which alters the physical and chemical properties substantially.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GaOOH Crystallite Growth on Liquid Metal Microdroplets in Water: Influence of the Local Environment

et al. 2022

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Gallium-based liquid metals form alloys with a melting point close to or below room temperature. On the surface of these liquid metals, a thin oxide skin is formed once in contact with oxygen, and this oxide skin can be leveraged to stabilize liquid metal micro- and nanodroplets in a liquid. During sonication and storage of these droplets in aqueous solution, gallium oxide hydroxide (GaOOH) forms on these droplets, and given enough time or treatment with heat, a full shape transition and dealloying are observed. In this article, we show that GaOOH can be grown at room temperature and that the growth is dependent on both the local environment and temperature. GaOOH growth on liquid metal microdroplets located at the air/water interface is considerably faster than in the bulk phase. Interestingly, hydrolysis to GaOOH is hampered and stops at 15 °C in bulk water after 6 h. In contrast, hydrolysis commences even at 15 °C for liquid metal microdroplets located at the air/water interface, and full surface coverage is obtained after around 24 h (compared to 12 h at 25 °C at the air/water interface). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement suggests that gallium oxide is dissolved and Ga(OH)3 is formed as a precursor that reacts in a downstream reaction toward GaOOH. This improved understanding of the GaOOH formation can be leveraged to control the liquid metal micro- and nanodroplet shape and composition (i.e., for biomedical applications).

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Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

GaOOH Crystallite Growth on Liquid Metal Microdroplets in Water: Influence of the Local Environment

et al. 2022

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“…Soft grippers have attracted widespread attention because of their flexibility and unique driving methods. The common ones are pneumatic drive [50,51], electromagnetic drive [52][53][54], and cable chain drive [55,56]. However, the structures corresponding to these driving methods are very complex and require the input of external energy.…”

Section: Applications Of Gradient Anisotropic Porous Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

3D Printing of Biomimetic Functional Nanocomposites via Vat Photopolymerization

Tang¹,

Joralmon²,

Li³

2023

Advances in 3D Printing

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The complex structures and functional material systems of natural organisms effectively cope with crisis-ridden living environments such as high temperature, drought, toxicity, and predator. Behind these excellent survival strategies evolved over hundreds of millions of years is a series of effective mechanical, optical, hydraulic, and electromagnetic properties. Bionic design and manufacturing have always attracted extensive attention, but the progress has been limited by the inability of traditional manufacturing techniques to reproduce microscopically complex structures and the lack of functional materials. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fabrication technique with a high degree of fabrication freedom and using composites derived from biological materials. Vat photopolymerization, an emerging additive manufacturing (aka 3D printing) technology, exhibits high manufacturing flexibility in the integrated manufacturing of multi-material systems and multi-scale structures. Here, biomaterial-inspired heterogeneous material systems based on polymer matrices and nanofillers, and the introduction of magnetic and electric fields on the basis of conventional 3D printing systems to spatially and programmably distribute nanofillers are summarized, which provides a new strategy for fabricating anisotropic structures. The application of this versatile 3D printing system in fabricating mechanically reinforced structures, polymer/metal structures, self-actuating, and superhydrophobic structures is also elaborated.

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“…The emerging field of soft robotics has attracted increasing attention for its ability to build shape-changing intelligent machines, DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205146 taking advantage of the adaptability and deformability properties of the materials involved. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] In environmental applications, a soft robot should be able to move, grow and/or evolve, adapting its morphology to the environmental stimuli and biodegrade at the end of its life cycle. [9,10] Furthermore, the increase in energy demand in the field of robotics requires a new class of Embodied Energy autonomous robots, [11] which use environment renewable energy to perform their functions with spatialtemporal continuity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

4D Printing of Humidity‐Driven Seed Inspired Soft Robots

et al. 2023

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Geraniaceae seeds represent a role model in soft robotics thanks to their ability to move autonomously across and into the soil driven by humidity changes. The secret behind their mobility and adaptivity is embodied in the hierarchical structures and anatomical features of the biological hygroscopic tissues, geometrically designed to be selectively responsive to environmental humidity. Following a bioinspired approach, the internal structure and biomechanics of Pelargonium appendiculatum (L.f.) Willd seeds are investigated to develop a model for the design of a soft robot. The authors exploit the re‐shaping ability of 4D printed materials to fabricate a seed‐like soft robot, according to the natural specifications and model, and using biodegradable and hygroscopic polymers. The robot mimics the movement and performances of the natural seed, reaching a torque value of ≈30 µN m, an extensional force of ≈2.5 mN and it is capable to lift ≈100 times its own weight. Driven by environmental humidity changes, the artificial seed is able to explore a sample soil, adapting its morphology to interact with soil roughness and cracks.

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Ultrafast small-scale soft electromagnetic robots

Cited by 71 publications

References 30 publications

GaOOH Crystallite Growth on Liquid Metal Microdroplets in Water: Influence of the Local Environment

GaOOH Crystallite Growth on Liquid Metal Microdroplets in Water: Influence of the Local Environment

3D Printing of Biomimetic Functional Nanocomposites via Vat Photopolymerization

4D Printing of Humidity‐Driven Seed Inspired Soft Robots

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