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Jing J, Yao B, Sun W, Chen J, Xu J, Fu J. Ultra-Tough, yet Rigid and Healable Supramolecular Polymers with Variable Stiffness for Multimodal Actuators. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202410693. [PMID: 39087854 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202410693] [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: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Variable stiffness materials have shown considerable application in soft robotics. However, previously reported materials often struggle to reconcile high stiffness, stretchability, toughness, and self-healing ability, because of the inherently conflicting requisite of these properties in molecular design. Herein, we propose a novel strategy that involves incorporating acid-base ionic pairs capable of from strong crosslinking sites into a dense and robust hydrogen-bonding network to construct rigid self-healing polymers with tunable stiffness and excellent toughness. To demonstrate these distinct features, the polymer was employed to serve as the strain-regulation layers within a fiber-reinforced pneumatic actuator (FPA). The exceptional synergy between the configuration versatility of FPA and the dynamic molecular behavior of the supramolecular polymers equips the actuator with simultaneous improvement in motion dexterity, multimodality, loading capacity, robustness, and durability. Additionally, the concept of integrating high dexterity at both macro- and micro-scale is prospective to inspire the design of intelligent yet robust devices across various domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Jing
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Yao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
| | - Wen Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
| | - Jiaoyang Chen
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
| | - Jianhua Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, NO. 200, XiaoLingWei Road, Nanjing, 210094, P. R. China
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2
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Mousa M, Rezanejad A, Gorissen B, Forte AE. Frequency-Controlled Fluidic Oscillators for Soft Robots. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2408879. [PMID: 39379021 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202408879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Electronic-free controls have recently emerged as one of the main topics in soft robotics. However, electronic-free fluidic circuits still lack controllability and reconfigurability to achieve different functions. Here, reconfigurable pneumatic valves that widen the design space of fluidic circuits are presented. The significance of two parameters on the valve's operation: a pre-defined manufacturing parameter that sets the initial operational range of the valve, and a second, on-the-fly modifiable geometric parameter that shifts the behavior of the valve during operation is shown. It is demonstrated that equipping the valve with these reconfigurable features enables the tuning of fluidic oscillatory circuits as illustrated by two examples: a frequency-controlled relaxation oscillator and a reconfigurable ring oscillator. The relaxation oscillator is employed to control the actuation frequency of a soft hopper, which is able to achieve 80 to 125 hops min-1 and a hopping speed ranging from ≈1 to ≈1.185 BL s-1. Additionally, the reconfigurable ring oscillator is used to demonstrate how each output frequency can be controlled independently, via a soft robotic crawler that can navigate in three directions, and a volume-controlled fluidic pump able to achieve mixing of solutions in environments where electronic components cannot operate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Mousa
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R2LS, UK
| | - Ashkan Rezanejad
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R2LS, UK
| | - Benjamin Gorissen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 300, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Flanders Make, Celestijnenlaan 300, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Antonio E Forte
- Department of Engineering, King's College London, Strand, London, WC2R2LS, UK
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3
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Yang H, Wei Y, Ju H, Huang X, Li J, Wang W, Peng D, Tu D, Li G. Microstrain-Stimulated Elastico-Mechanoluminescence with Dual-Mode Stress Sensing. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2401296. [PMID: 38599208 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202401296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Elastico-mechanoluminescence technology has shown significant application prospects in stress sensing, artificial skin, remote interaction, and other research areas. Its progress mainly lies in realizing stress visualization and 2D or even 3D stress-sensing effects using a passive sensing mode. However, the widespread promotion of mechanoluminescence (ML) technology is hindered by issues such as high stress or strain thresholds and a single sensing mode based on luminous intensity. In this study, a highly efficient green-emitting ML with dual-mode stress-sensing characteristics driven by microscale strain is developed using LiTaO3:Tb3+. In addition to single-mode sensing based on the luminous intensity, the self-defined parameter (Q) is also introduced as a dual-mode factor for sensing the stress velocity. Impressively, the fabricated LiTaO3:Tb3+ film is capable of generating discernible ML signals even when supplied with strains as low as 500 µst. This is the current minimum strain value that can drive green-emitting ML. This study offers an ideal photonic platform for exploring the potential applications of rare-earth-doped elastico-ML materials in remote interaction devices, high-precision stress sensors, and single-molecule biological imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Yi Wei
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Haonan Ju
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xinru Huang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Materials and Devices for Informatics of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang, 236037, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Dengfeng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Dong Tu
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Zhejiang Institute, China University of Geosciences, Hangzhou, 311305, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Wuhan University, Shenzhen, 518057, China
| | - Guogang Li
- Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Zhejiang Institute, China University of Geosciences, Hangzhou, 311305, China
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Qiu C, He M, Xu SF, Ali AM, Shen L, Wang JS. Self-adhesive, conductive, and multifunctional hybrid hydrogel for flexible/wearable electronics based on triboelectric and piezoresistive sensor. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 269:131825. [PMID: 38679271 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.131825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Flexible electronics are highly developed nowadays in human-machine interfaces (HMI). However, challenges such as lack of flexibility, conductivity, and versatility always greatly hindered flexible electronics applications. In this work, a multifunctional hybrid hydrogel (H-hydrogel) was prepared by combining two kinds of 1D polymer chains (polyacrylamide and polydopamine) and two kinds of 2D nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx MXene and graphene oxide nanosheets) as quadruple crosslinkers. The introduced Ti3C2Tx MXene and graphene oxide nanosheets are bonded with the PAM and PDA polymer chains by hydrogen bonds. This unique crosslinking and stable structure endow the H-hydrogel with advantages such as good flexibility, electrical conductivity, self-adhesion, and mechanical robustness. The two kinds of nanosheets not only improved the mechanical strength and conductivity of the H-hydrogel, but also helped to form the double electric layers (DELs) between the nanosheets and the bulk-free water phase inside the H-hydrogel. When utilized as the electrode of a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), high electrical output performances were realized due to the dynamic balance of the DELs between the nanosheets and the H-hydrogel's inside water molecules. Moreover, flexible sensors, including triboelectric, and strain/pressure sensors, were achieved for human motion detection at low frequencies. This hydrogel is promising for HMI and e-skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuang Qiu
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Ming He
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Shi-Feng Xu
- College of Science, Shenyang Aerospace University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110136, China
| | - Aasi Mohammad Ali
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Lin Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| | - Jia-Shi Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
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Peng Y, Dong J, Long J, Zhang Y, Tang X, Lin X, Liu H, Liu T, Fan W, Liu T, Huang Y. Thermally Conductive and UV-EMI Shielding Electronic Textiles for Unrestricted and Multifaceted Health Monitoring. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2024; 16:199. [PMID: 38771428 PMCID: PMC11109083 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-024-01429-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Skin-attachable electronics have garnered considerable research attention in health monitoring and artificial intelligence domains, whereas susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI), heat accumulation issues, and ultraviolet (UV)-induced aging problems pose significant constraints on their potential applications. Here, an ultra-elastic, highly breathable, and thermal-comfortable epidermal sensor with exceptional UV-EMI shielding performance and remarkable thermal conductivity is developed for high-fidelity monitoring of multiple human electrophysiological signals. Via filling the elastomeric microfibers with thermally conductive boron nitride nanoparticles and bridging the insulating fiber interfaces by plating Ag nanoparticles (NPs), an interwoven thermal conducting fiber network (0.72 W m-1 K-1) is constructed benefiting from the seamless thermal interfaces, facilitating unimpeded heat dissipation for comfort skin wearing. More excitingly, the elastomeric fiber substrates simultaneously achieve outstanding UV protection (UPF = 143.1) and EMI shielding (SET > 65, X-band) capabilities owing to the high electrical conductivity and surface plasmon resonance of Ag NPs. Furthermore, an electronic textile prepared by printing liquid metal on the UV-EMI shielding and thermally conductive nonwoven textile is finally utilized as an advanced epidermal sensor, which succeeds in monitoring different electrophysiological signals under vigorous electromagnetic interference. This research paves the way for developing protective and environmentally adaptive epidermal electronics for next-generation health regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Peng
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiancheng Dong
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayan Long
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinwei Tang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Haoran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Tuoqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Fan
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianxi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yunpeng Huang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, People's Republic of China.
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Li Z, Wang Z, Wang WD. Constrained Origami Artificial Muscle-Driven Robotic Manipulator Capable of Coordinating Twisting and Grasping Motions for Object Manipulation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:7850-7859. [PMID: 38300735 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Grasping and twisting motions are vital when manipulating objects due to their fundamental role in enabling precision, adaptability, and effective interaction. However, few studies in soft robotics exploiting artificial muscles have achieved object manipulation in situ through the coordination of twisting and grasping motions akin to our forearm and hand's capabilities. Especially, when using the same artificial muscle module to achieve these two motions will greatly simplify the manufacturing and control complexity. Here, we introduce identical origami artificial muscle modules (OAMMs) subjected to distinct end constraints into the design of the robotic manipulator, allowing it to achieve independent grasping and twisting motions to achieve effective, precise object manipulation. Applying different end constraints to the identical OAMMs yields distinct motions at their ends, where utilizing a fixed end and a sliding end realizes pure translation, while opting for a fixed end and a rotating end enables pure rotation. The differentially constrained OAMMs then serve as soft actuators for the manipulator's torsional mechanism and grasping mechanism to accomplish independent, controllable twisting and grasping motions. The coordination of twisting and grasping motions finally enables the manipulator to complete various tasks, including installing a light bubble, pouring the water from a lidded bottle into a cup, and sorting and stacking puzzle blocks. Our study pioneers the utilization of OAMMs for precise and versatile object manipulation through the coordination of independent twisting and grasping motions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhui Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Zifeng Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Wei Dawid Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
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