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Kalulu M, Chilikwazi B, Hu J, Fu G. Soft Actuators and Actuation: Design, Synthesis, and Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2024:e2400282. [PMID: 38850266 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202400282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Soft actuators are one of the most promising technological advancements with potential solutions to diverse fields' day-to-day challenges. Soft actuators derived from hydrogel materials possess unique features such as flexibility, responsiveness to stimuli, and intricate deformations, making them ideal for soft robotics, artificial muscles, and biomedical applications. This review provides an overview of material composition and design techniques for hydrogel actuators, exploring 3D printing, photopolymerization, cross-linking, and microfabrication methods for improved actuation. It examines applications of hydrogel actuators in biomedical, soft robotics, bioinspired systems, microfluidics, lab-on-a-chip devices, and environmental, and energy systems. Finally, it discusses challenges, opportunities, advancements, and regulatory aspects related to hydrogel actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mulenga Kalulu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Bright Chilikwazi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Zambia, Lusaka, 10101, Zambia
| | - Jun Hu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Jiangning, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, P. R. China
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Xue E, Liu L, Wu W, Wang B. Soft Fiber/Textile Actuators: From Design Strategies to Diverse Applications. ACS NANO 2024; 18:89-118. [PMID: 38146868 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Fiber/textile-based actuators have garnered considerable attention due to their distinctive attributes, encompassing higher degrees of freedom, intriguing deformations, and enhanced adaptability to complex structures. Recent studies highlight the development of advanced fibers and textiles, expanding the application scope of fiber/textile-based actuators across diverse emerging fields. Unlike sheet-like soft actuators, fibers/textiles with intricate structures exhibit versatile movements, such as contraction, coiling, bending, and folding, achieved through adjustable strain and stroke. In this review article, we provide a timely and comprehensive overview of fiber/textile actuators, including structures, fabrication methods, actuation principles, and applications. After discussing the hierarchical structure and deformation of the fiber/textile actuator, we discuss various spinning strategies, detailing the merits and drawbacks of each. Next, we present the actuation principles of fiber/fabric actuators, along with common external stimuli. In addition, we provide a summary of the emerging applications of fiber/textile actuators. Concluding with an assessment of existing challenges and future opportunities, this review aims to provide a valuable perspective on the enticing realm of fiber/textile-based actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enbo Xue
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, P. R. China
| | - Limei Liu
- College of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225127, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wu
- Laboratory of Printable Functional Materials and Printed Electronics, School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P. R. China
| | - Binghao Wang
- School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, P. R. China
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Wang X, Xue P, Ma S, Gong Y, Xu X. Polydopamine-Modified MXene-Integrated Poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) to Construct Ultrafast Photoresponsive Bilayer Hydrogel Actuators with Smart Adhesion. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:49689-49700. [PMID: 37823839 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In nature, living organisms, such as octopuses, cabrito, and frogs, have already evolved admirable adhesive abilities for better movement and predation in response to the surroundings. Inspired by biological structures, researchers have made enormous efforts in developing actuators that can respond to external stimuli, while such adhesive property is very desired, yet there is still limited research in responsive hydrogel actuators. Here, a bilayer actuator with high stretchability and robust interface bonding is presented, which has a smart adhesion and thermoreception function. The system consists of an adhesive passive layer copolymerized of amphoteric ([2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl] dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl), SBMA) and acrylic acid (AA), and an active layer hydrogel composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) containing polydopamine-modified MXene (P-MXene) and calcium chloride (CaCl2). The coordination of carboxylate and Ca2+ at the interface of the two layers enhances the interfacial bonding from 14 to 30 N m-1, which facilitates withstanding large strain and preventing stratification. The resulting hydrogel actuator can bend approximately 360° in a mere 10 s, exhibiting excellent photothermal effect, a large angle bending deformation, and ultrafast photoresponsive ability. As a proof of concept, the photothermal actuators are programmed to present various shapes and grab objects. Importantly, the hydrogel actuator exhibits remarkable adhesion capabilities toward diverse substrates, with a maximum peel force of up to 280 N m-1. Relying on their own adhesion and the photoresponse properties, these flexible adhesion actuators show outstanding gripping capability, enabling them to grip and release objects of different shapes and weights. More interestingly, the hydrogel exhibits a smart adjustable adhesion capability at different temperatures, which enables it as a gripper to recognize temperature signals through real-time different feedback actions based on its own adhesion. This study presents innovative insights into biomimetic hydrogel actuators, providing new opportunities for developing intelligent soft robots with multiple functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Pan Xue
- Xi'an Rare Metal Materials Institute Co. Ltd, 96 Weiyang Road, Xi'an 710016, China
| | - Shaoshuai Ma
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Yanan Gong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Xinhua Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
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Tao Z, Zhou Q, Zheng T, Mo F, Ouyang S. Iron oxide nanoparticles in the soil environment: Adsorption, transformation, and environmental risk. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132107. [PMID: 37515989 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have great application potential due to their multifunctional excellence properties, leading to the possibility of their release into soil environments. IONPs exhibit different adsorption properties toward environmental pollutants (e.g., heavy metals and organic compounds), thus the adsorption performance for various contaminants and the molecular interactions at the IONPs-pollutants interface are discussed. After solute adsorption, the change in the environmental behavior of IONPs is an important transformation process in the natural environments. The aggregation, aging process, and chemical/biological transformation of IONPs can be altered by soil solution chemistry, as well as by the presence of dissolved organic matter and microorganisms. Upon exposure to soil environments, IONPs have both positive and negative impacts on soil organisms (e.g., bacteria, plants, nematodes, and earthworms). Moreover, we compared the toxicity of IONPs alone to combined toxicity with environmental pollutants and pristine IONPs to aged IONPs, and the mechanisms of IONPs toxicity at the cellular level are also reviewed. Given the unanswered questions, future research should include prediction and design of IONPs, new characterization technology for monitoring IONPs transformation in soil ecosystems, and further refinement the environmental risk assessment of IONPs. This review will greatly enhance our knowledge of the performance and impact of IONPs in soil systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongxin Tao
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Qixing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Tong Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Fan Mo
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Shaohu Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Zuo L, Wu M, Zhang H, Zhang S, Ma Z, Luo J, Ding C, Li J. A hydrogel gripper enabling fine movement based on spatiotemporal mineralization. J Mater Chem B 2023; 11:8966-8973. [PMID: 37695077 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb01252b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Fine tailoring of the subtle movements of a hydrogel actuator through simple methods has widespread application prospects in wearable electronics, bionic robots and biomedical engineering. However, to the best of our knowledge, this challenge is not yet completed. Inspired by the diffusion-reaction process in nature, a hydrogel gripper with the capability of fine movement was successfully prepared based on the spatiotemporal fabrication of the polypyrrole (PPY) pattern in a poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel. The hydrogel was given gradient porous structures using a one-step UV irradiation method. Moreover, photothermal PPY patterns on the hydrogel were obtained through spatiotemporal mineralization of ferric hydroxide followed by the polymerization of pyrrole in a controllable manner. Taking advantage of the unique structures, the hydrogel gripper can not only achieve reversible grasping-releasing of substrates with the tuning of temperature (similar to that of hands), but also generate delicate movement under the irradiation of light (resembling that of finger joints). The strategy reported here is easily accessible and there is no need for sophisticated templates, therefore making it superior to other existing methods. We believe this work will provide references for the design and application of more advanced soft actuators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangrui Zuo
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Mingzhen Wu
- Guangxi Institute for Food and Drug Control, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Shikai Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Zhengxin Ma
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Jun Luo
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Chunmei Ding
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
| | - Jianshu Li
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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