No abstract

Responsive materials have been used to generate structures with built-in complex geometries, linear actuators and microswimmers. These results suggest that complex, fully functional machines composed solely from shape-changing materials might be possible . Nonetheless, to accomplish rotary motion in these materials still relies on the classical wheel and axle motifs. Here we explore geometric zero-energy modes to elicit rotary motion in elastic materials in the absence of a rigid wheel travelling around an axle. We show that prestrained polymer fibres closed into rings exhibit self-actuation and continuous motion when placed between two heat baths due to elastic deformations that arise from rotational-symmetry breaking around the rod's axis. Our findings illustrate a simple but robust model to create active motion in mechanically prestrained objects.

Si NMR spectra of the photocured films F1-F3 (Fig. S1). CP-MAS 13 C NMR spectra of the photocured films F1-F3 (Fig. S2). In situ photographs of the moving tip during a scratch experiment for F1 and F3 films when applying an increasing normal load (Fig. S3).