Dual-Stimuli Responsive Carbon Nanotube Sponge-PDMS Amphibious Actuator

Abstract

A dual-stimuli responsive soft actuator based on the three-dimensional (3D) porous carbon nanotube (CNT) sponge and its composite with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was developed, which can realize both electrothermal and electrochemical actuation. The bimorph actuator exhibited a bending curvature of 0.32 cm−1·W−1 under electrothermal stimulation on land. The displacement of the electrochemical actuator could reach 4 mm under a 5 V applied voltage in liquid. The dual-responsive actuator has demonstrated the applications on multi-functional amphibious soft robots as a crawling robot like an inchworm, a gripper to grasp and transport the cargo and an underwater robot kicking a ball. Our study presents the versatility of the CNT sponge-based actuator, which can be used both on land and in water.

Smart Film Actuators for Biomedical Applications

“…A primary pre‐gel solution containing monomers and photo‐initiators could form hydrogels with interpenetrating networks at the UV light‐exposed regions. By further incorporation of functional elements such as liquid metals [ 42 ] or 2D materials, [ 43 ] the patterned hydrogels can perform various stimuli‐responsive shape morphing behaviors predictably and thus serve as SFAs.…”

Bidirectional Actuation of Silk Fibroin Films: Role of Water and Alcohol Vapors

“…Replicating these compound movements observed in nature is still challenging and often requires multitrigger-responsive soft materials capable of volumetric expansion and contraction . There are numerous polymeric materials that produce large-scale actuation upon exposure to a single stimulant such as humidity, − light, temperature, pH, and electric/magnetic field. − Further, polymeric materials in many different forms such as fibers, , hydrogels, , sponges, , films, and textiles are known to be efficient soft actuators capable of producing programmable actuation. Among these, polymer films have attracted enormous interest because of their abilities to produce macroscale actuation and shape morphing abilities such as folding, twisting, and rolling. , Moreover, polymer film-based actuators exhibit distinct functional locomotions (tumbling, jumping, and wiggling), , and possess tunable actuation time scales spanning from microseconds to several tens of seconds. , A few polymeric film composites consisting of more than one layer are designed to actuate upon exposure to multiple stimulants such as light, heat, electric field, moisture, and solvent vapors. ,− Usually, integrating multistimuli-responsiveness by combining more than one polymer film increases the complexity of the soft actuator system and reduces its durability.…”

“…1 There are numerous polymeric materials that produce large-scale actuation upon exposure to a single stimulant such as humidity, 2−4 light, 5 temperature, 6 pH, 7 and electric/magnetic field. 8−10 Further, polymeric materials in many different forms such as fibers, 11,12 hydrogels, 13,14 sponges, 15,16 films, 17 and textiles 18 are known to be efficient soft actuators capable of producing programmable actuation. Among these, polymer films have attracted enormous interest because of their abilities to produce macroscale actuation and shape morphing abilities such as folding, twisting, and rolling.…”

Effect of Structure of Polymers Grafted from Graphene Oxide on the Compatibility of Particles with a Silicone-Based Environment and the Stimuli-Responsive Capabilities of Their Composites

“…silicone oil as a continuous liquid phase and silicone elastomer as a continuous phase of a solid-like system. Silicone oil is used as a carrier liquid in electrorheological suspensions, while silicone elastomer has been proved as a suitable matrix for the preparation of mechanical actuators [43,44]. Our previous research showed that SI-ATRP is a powerful tool for tailoring the ER performance of ER fluids based on graphene oxide and silicone oil [45].…”