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Photothermal modulated dielectric elastomer actuator for resilient soft robots

Author

Listed:
  • Matthew Wei Ming Tan

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Hyunwoo Bark

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Gurunathan Thangavel

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Xuefei Gong

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Pooi See Lee

    (Nanyang Technological University)

Abstract

Soft robots need to be resilient to extend their operation under unpredictable environments. While utilizing elastomers that are tough and healable is promising to achieve this, mechanical enhancements often lead to higher stiffness that deteriorates actuation strains. This work introduces liquid metal nanoparticles into carboxyl polyurethane elastomer to sensitize a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) with responsiveness to electric fields and NIR light. The nanocomposite can be healed under NIR illumination to retain high toughness (55 MJ m−3) and can be recycled at lower temperatures and shorter durations due to nanoparticle-elastomer interactions that minimize energy barriers. During co-stimulation, photothermal effects modulate the elastomer moduli to lower driving electric fields of DEAs. Bilayer configurations display synergistic actuation under co-stimulation to improve energy densities, and enable a DEA crawler to achieve longer strides. This work paves the way for a generation of soft robots that achieves both resilience and high actuation performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Wei Ming Tan & Hyunwoo Bark & Gurunathan Thangavel & Xuefei Gong & Pooi See Lee, 2022. "Photothermal modulated dielectric elastomer actuator for resilient soft robots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34301-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34301-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Svetlana A. Chechetka & Yue Yu & Xu Zhen & Manojit Pramanik & Kanyi Pu & Eijiro Miyako, 2017. "Light-driven liquid metal nanotransformers for biomedical theranostics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liqing Ai & Weikang Lin & Chunyan Cao & Pengyu Li & Xuejiao Wang & Dong Lv & Xin Li & Zhengbao Yang & Xi Yao, 2023. "Tough soldering for stretchable electronics by small-molecule modulated interfacial assemblies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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