Liquid crystal elastomer fibers (LCEFs) are promising materials for constructing artificial muscles. However, the practical applications in smart wearable textiles and soft robots are still hindered due to their weak tensile performance and complex actuation integration. In this work, an LCEFs braided actuator is fabricated in which several LCEFs are integrated with silver‐plated nylon strands using the textile braiding method. The silver‐plated nylon strands can generate joule heat for triggering LCEFs and meanwhile strengthen the braided actuators. Owing to the braided structure, this LCEFs braided actuator exhibits large reversible contraction (34%) and actuation force (18.7 cN) with electrical stimulation at 0.6 V cm−1. An artificial arm and a soft pump based on the LCEFs braided actuators is successfully developed. The LCEFs braided actuator can lift 205 times its weight as an artificial biceps. And the soft pump can achieve cyclic contraction and relaxation motions similar to the cardiac muscle under electrical stimulation and reach an output flow rate of 111 µL s−1. This braided integration concept would broaden the potential applications of LCEFs.

Multifunctional flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity and wide sensing range can meet the requirements of various complex applications. Herein, metal (Au or Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced onto a...

This study investigated the thermal, mechanical, and oil absorption-retention properties at various temperatures (20°C, 30°C, 40°C, 50°C, and 60°C) of three-dimensional (3D) weft-knitted spacer fabrics with optimal performance of silica aerogel coating that demands exceptional attention. Silica aerogels and (silica aerogels + poly(vinyl-alcohol)) sols were prepared and coated on 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics to study and compare the basic properties, i.e. thermal resistance, thermal conductivity, tensile strength, initial modulus, compression, bending rigidity, wettability, oil absorption, and retention capacity. The scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies were completed to understand the influence of both coatings on 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics such as surface morphology and molecular interaction. The tensile, bending, and compression tests of 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics were accomplished to check their durability, bendability, and compressibility. All the coated samples (both silica aerogels and (silica aerogels + poly(vinyl-alcohol))) showed greater thermal resistance (0.0971 ± 0.0003 m2 KW−1 and 0.0912 ± 0.0005 m2−1KW−1) and the lower thermal conductivity would be (0.0309 ± 0.0001 Wm−1 K−1 and 0.0329 ± 0.0002 Wm−1 K−1) instead of (0.0329 ± 0.0002 Wm−1 K−1 and 0.0329 ± 0.0002 Wm−1 K−1) with better thermal stability than the uncoated samples, most specifically coated sample 5. Besides, coated sample 5 exposed higher oil absorption ((7.91 ± 0.06 g/g and 7.88 ± 0.06 g/g) and (7.56 ± 0.04 g/g and 7.53 ± 0.04 g/g)) and retention ((90.10 ± 0.53% and 89.07 ± 0.55%) and (92.47 ± 0.49% and 91.43 ± 0.47%)) capacity for vegetable and engine oil in all conditions, especially at 40°C. The outcomes demonstrated that both coatings played a vital role in the thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties of 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics with statistically significant performance ( p < 0.05). Moreover, these new types of sorbents (3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics) have better consequences in most cases than conventional knitted, woven, and nonwoven sorbents. Hence, these 3D weft-knitted spacer fabrics could be used for industrial applications as eco-friendly and multifunctional oil sorbent materials.