A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions

Ford, Michael J.; Ambulo, Cedric P.; Kent, Teresa A.; Markvicka, Eric J.; Pan, Chengfeng; Malen, Jonathan A.; Ware, Taylor H.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1911021116

Cited by 250 publications

(220 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

220

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…LMs are also utilized for electrical applications, due to their huge (relative to other options) electrical conductivity and dielectric properties (e.g., refs. [ 12,115,152–155 ] , Figure 5D). In general, most as‐fabricated, discrete liquid in continuous solid/liquid metal composites are insulating, both due to the insulating elastomer phase, and due to insulating oxide layers around the LM droplets.…”

Section: Properties Of Slcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Upon the application of large voltages, the Maxwell stress pulls the outer surfaces together which also produces deformations outside of the active electrode area which can be leveraged to do rapid work. Further approaches include actuation via electrohydrodynamic pumping of liquid within elastomeric channels, [ 215 ] embedding of LM droplets into liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) to enable electrically activated shape‐shifting structures (Figure 9G), [ 154 ] and encapsulating electrically controlled, shape‐memory‐alloy (SMA) wires in LM/elastomer composites. In this last case, the composite material serves to give low mechanical resistance to actuation, which enhances the actuation frequency and deflection, while dissipating heat generated by the SMA wires.…”

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Solid–Liquid Composites for Soft Multifunctional Materials

Style

Tutika

Kim

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soft materials with a liquid component are an emerging paradigm in materials design. The incorporation of a liquid phase, such as water, liquid metals, or complex fluids, into solid materials imparts unique properties and characteristics that emerge as a result of the dramatically different properties of the liquid and solid. Especially in recent years, this has led to the development and study of a range of novel materials with new functional responses, with applications in topics including soft electronics, soft robotics, 3D printing, wet granular systems and even in cell biology. Here we provide a review of solid-liquid composites, broadly defined as a material system with at least one, phase-separated liquid component, and discuss their morphology and fabrication approaches, their emergent mechanical properties and functional response, and the broad range of their applications.

show abstract

Section: Properties Of Slcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solid–Liquid Composites for Soft Multifunctional Materials

Style

Tutika

Kim

et al. 2020

Adv Funct Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[73] Recently, Majidi and coworkers reported an electrothermal LCN composite with dispersed liquid metal (LM) microdroplets. [74] Unlike the previous LCN composites with rigid components, the liquid state of LM allows the LCN to maintain its mechanical compliance even with up to 50 vol% of LM. The high content of LM in the LCN improves the thermal and electrical conductivity of the material, which ensures large reversible deformation at relatively low voltage.…”

Section: Electro-responsive Lcnsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Crystal Polymer‐Based Soft Robots

Xiao

Jiang

Zhao

2020

Advanced Intelligent Systems

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Soft robots outperform the conventional robots on enhanced safety for human-machine interaction, environmental adaptability, and continuous deformation. In this blooming area of fundamental and technological importance, liquid crystal polymer networks and liquid crystal elastomers (referred to as LCNs) have emerged as one of the most valuable candidates for soft robots due to their complex, large, and reversible shape change capabilities. To date, much research effort, mainly regarding chemical synthesis, fabrication technologies and soft robot design, has been dedicated to LCN robotic systems to endow them with versatile and complex actions controlled by various stimuli. Herein, starting with the principle that governs the stimuli-responsiveness of LCNs, recent progress made in LCN soft robots is summarized while focusing on different robotic motions, such as grapping, walking, swimming, and oscillation. Especially, novel LCNs with intelligent functions such as reprocessability, reconfigurability, self-regulating behavior and associative learning capability, are highlighted. This article aims to provide significant insights into the design and development of LCN-based soft robots.

show abstract

“…Except for heat, topographical features of LCE sheets can also be controlled with either light [ 66 ] or electrical stimulation. [ 50,67,68 ]…”

Section: Surface Morphingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Liquid Crystal Polymer Surfaces with Switchable Topographies

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Surface coatings, as interfaces between functional devices and targeted objects, are critical in the performance of functional devices. Switchable topographies bring opportunities to regulate the functionality of surfaces, ranging from morphing and controllable friction to object lifting and debris removal. Various responsive materials have been investigated to develop switchable surfaces, among which liquid crystal (LC) polymers are attractive candidates due to their anisotropic properties. Herein, focus is put on recent reports of switchable surfaces made of LC polymers. The principle of actuation of LC polymer–based switchable surfaces is introduced, with following exemplary applications derived from these responsive surfaces in the field of surface morphing, switchable surface friction, and moving/lifting of objects. Finally, future possible applications of and challenges in using dynamic coatings with switchable surface topographies are discussed.

show abstract

A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions

Cited by 250 publications

References 31 publications

Solid–Liquid Composites for Soft Multifunctional Materials

Solid–Liquid Composites for Soft Multifunctional Materials

Liquid Crystal Polymer‐Based Soft Robots

Functional Liquid Crystal Polymer Surfaces with Switchable Topographies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About