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Light-fuelled freestyle self-oscillators

Author

Listed:
  • Hao Zeng

    (Tampere University)

  • Markus Lahikainen

    (Tampere University)

  • Li Liu

    (Southeast University)

  • Zafar Ahmed

    (Tampere University)

  • Owies M. Wani

    (Tampere University)

  • Meng Wang

    (Southeast University)

  • Hong Yang

    (Southeast University)

  • Arri Priimagi

    (Tampere University)

Abstract

Self-oscillation is a phenomenon where an object sustains periodic motion upon non-periodic stimulus. It occurs commonly in nature, a few examples being heartbeat, sea waves and fluttering of leaves. Stimuli-responsive materials allow creating synthetic self-oscillators fuelled by different forms of energy, e.g. heat, light and chemicals, showing great potential for applications in power generation, autonomous mass transport, and self-propelled micro-robotics. However, most of the self-oscillators are based on bending deformation, thereby limiting their possibilities of being implemented in practical applications. Here, we report light-fuelled self-oscillators based on liquid crystal network actuators that can exhibit three basic oscillation modes: bending, twisting and contraction-expansion. We show that a time delay in material response dictates the self-oscillation dynamics, and realize a freestyle self-oscillator that combines numerous oscillation modes simultaneously by adjusting the excitation beam position. The results provide new insights into understanding of self-oscillation phenomenon and offer new designs for future self-propelling micro-robots.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao Zeng & Markus Lahikainen & Li Liu & Zafar Ahmed & Owies M. Wani & Meng Wang & Hong Yang & Arri Priimagi, 2019. "Light-fuelled freestyle self-oscillators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-13077-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13077-6
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    Cited by:

    1. David Urban & Niccolò Marcucci & Christoph Hubertus Wölfle & Jan Torgersen & Dag Roar Hjelme & Emiliano Descrovi, 2023. "Polarization-driven reversible actuation in a photo-responsive polymer composite," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Jingjing Li & Linlin Mou & Zunfeng Liu & Xiang Zhou & Yongsheng Chen, 2022. "Oscillating light engine realized by photothermal solvent evaporation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Cheng, Quanbao & Zhou, Lin & Du, Changshen & Li, Kai, 2022. "A light-fueled self-oscillating liquid crystal elastomer balloon with self-shading effect," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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