ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2022
·
IF 10.383
Lei Liu,Cheng Wang,Ze Wu,Youqiang Xing
The main challenge in manufacturing an ionic actuator of large bending displacement and great response sensitivity is to design a flexible electrode with great electrochemical characteristics and conductivity. This research reports the MXene-PEDOT:PSS/AgNWs (MPA) electrode with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure formed by a hybrid method of the one-dimensional (1D) silver nanowires (AgNWs) and the two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx MXene. Here, a soft actuator based on the ionic cross-linked hybrid electrode was designed. The results show that the MPA electrode-based soft actuator achieves a large bending strain (0.48%, ±0.5 V sine voltage), wide frequency (0.1–10 Hz), 5 h durability (91.9% retention), fast response time (≈5 s), great power density (7.53 kW m–3), and great energy density (18.83 kJ m–3). These excellent performances contribute to the 3D structure of electrodes formed by MXene and AgNWs creating an unhindered ion channel, which facilitates short diffusion and rapid injection of ions and provides higher capacitance and mechanical integrity. This 3D network layered structure hybrid electrode provides an opportunity for the development of ultralow-voltage-drivable artificial muscles.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
NANOTECHNOLOGY
·
2019
·Vol. 30
·期 28
·285503
·
IF 3.399
Zhuangzhi Sun,Lu Yang,Dan Zhang,Fuguo Bian,Wenlong Song
In this work, high-performance biocompatible nano-biocomposite artificial muscles were developed via various thicknesses of renewable microporous ionic electrolytes (ICEs) made of natural biopolymer cellulose dissolved in ionic liquid with excellent ionic conductivity and flexibility. The changing thickness experiments illustrated that 0.7 mm thick ICEs could deliver outstanding areal capacitance of 44.708 mF cm−2 and ionic conductivity of 79.7 μS cm−1, as well as minimum resistance of 1.61 Ω. The current density changed from 1 to 10 Ag−1, and improvements were achieved in energy density (from 3.88 to 21.25 Wh kg−1) and power density (from 2.63 to 5.51 KW kg−1). The voltage window widened from 0.5 to 1 V, and improvements were gained in energy density (from 4.13 to 22.01 Wh kg−1) and power density (from 1.25 to 2.81 KW kg−1). Moreover, good flexibility of 0.7 mm thick ICE with porosity of 89.61% and elastic modulus of 74.38 MPa was discovered. Electromechanical experiments demonstrated from the above results that the maximum peak displacement with 0.3 mm ICE was 5.33 mm at 5 V 0.02 Hz sine wave voltage, and the maximum displacement and force with 0.7 mm ICE was 17.44 mm and 5.93 mN at 5 V DC voltages. These findings suggest that the explored excellent ionic conductivity and flexibility of ICEs holds great promise for the further study of high-performance green actuators.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Polymers
·
2021
·Vol. 13
·期 16
·2734
·
IF 4.329
Bin Luo,Yiding Zhong,Hualing Chen,Zicai Zhu,Yanjie Wang
Electroactive PVC gel is a new artificial muscle material with good performance that can mimic the movement of biological muscle in an electric field. However, traditional manufacturing methods, such as casting, prevent the broad application of this promising material because they cannot achieve the integration of the PVC gel electrode and core layer, and at the same time, it is difficult to create complex and diverse structures. In this study, a multi-material, integrated direct writing method is proposed to fabricate corrugated PVC gel artificial muscle. Inks with suitable rheological properties were developed for printing four functional layers, including core layers, electrode layers, sacrificial layers, and insulating layers, with different characteristics. The curing conditions of the printed CNT/SMP inks under different applied conditions were also discussed. The structural parameters were optimized to improve the actuating performance of the PVC gel artificial muscle. The corrugated PVC gel with a span of 1.6 mm had the best actuating performance. Finally, we printed three layers of corrugated PVC gel artificial muscle with good actuating performance. The proposed method can help to solve the inherent shortcomings of traditional manufacturing methods of PVC gel actuators. The printed structures have potential applications in many fields, such as soft robotics and flexible electronic devices.Keywords:direct writing;PVC gel;artificial muscle;rheological behavior;integrated printing
研究领域:
软体机器人
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材料科学
·
生物仿生学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ADVANCED MATERIALS
·
2021
·Vol. 33
·期 52
·2105597
·
IF 30.849
Mengqi Fang,Tao Liu,Yang Xu,Binjie Jin,Ning Zheng,Yue Zhang,Qian Zhao,Zheng Jia,Tao Xie
The muscle-like activities of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) offer great potential for designing future soft machines. Their motion complexity, however, relies on inflexible and cumbersome mesogen alignment techniques. Here, a digital photocuring method for ultrafast template-free fabrication of LCE artificial muscles capable of designable complex motions is reported. This method utilizes the intrinsic light attenuation in the through-plane direction to create mesogen alignment for reversible bending action. To turn this simple actuation into complex motions, the principles of muscles are borrowed which realize diverse motions through the cooperative actions of otherwise simple contraction/expansion of individual muscle bundles. Specifically, the spatiotemporal digital light is utilized to design LCE architectures composed of strategically arranged bending modules. As such, LCE capable of highly designable motions can be fabricated within 25 s light curing without employing any physical alignment templates, which offers an attractive option toward designing functionally diverse soft machines.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物仿生学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS
·
2025
·Vol. 36
·期 7
·1-16
·
IF 2.8
Yu Ziqing,Gu Yunqing,Ren Yun,Xie Zhengpu,He Chendong,Mou Chenqi,Wu Zhenxing,Wu Denghao,Mou Jiegang
The driving performance of current biomimetic artificial muscles has not yet met the requirements for engineering applications, limiting their practical prospects. This paper presents a test scheme for the driving characteristics of biomimetic artificial muscles, with chitosan and graphene as the main materials. Key evaluation indicators are proposed, including output force, output displacement, and response speed. The study focuses on analyzing the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MCNT) and Genipin on the driving characteristics of the artificial muscles. MCNT crosslinked with graphene enhances the conductivity of the electrode layer, while Genipin crosslinked with chitosan improves the structural stability and flexibility of the driving layer. The combined addition of MCNT and Genipin significantly enhances the driving performance of the artificial muscles, especially in terms of output displacement, output force, and response speed. The experiment summarizes the optimal additive ratio, providing important guidance and experimental support for further optimization of the design and performance of biomimetic artificial muscles.
研究领域:
生物材料学
·
仿生工程学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2025
·
IF 8.2
Juncai Song,Tianfeng Zhou,Xiang Xiao,Mingchao Zhang,Peng Liu,Xianbing Zeng,Ruijue Duan,Yue Li,Lei Li,Baiqian Xu,Guanghao Wu,Yubing Guo
Artificial muscles are regarded as indispensable for next-generation robots. They can mimic the complex motions of living organisms and demonstrate performance surpassing that of natural muscles. Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) possess the unique advantage of programmable three-dimensional shape-morphing compared to other soft materials, holding significant promise for artificial muscle applications. However, LCE-based artificial muscle with designable shape-morphing is limited to 100 μm thickness currently, which significantly restricts the driving capability of artificial muscles. Here, we developed the centimeter-scale bulk LCE (CBLCE) artificial muscles with all three dimensions up to centimeter-scale through two-step crosslinking of an LCE with acceptable actuation strain and large modulus, which results in CBLCE artificial muscles with strong mechanical properties. Specifically, this CBLCE demonstrates 37.5% actuation strain (comparable to human skeletal muscles) and strong mechanical properties, such as up to 24 MPa modulus (exceeding that of most powerful natural muscles), large energy density (10 times that of human skeletal muscle), and large output capability (3624 times its gravity). Beyond these remarkable mechanical properties, this artificial muscle further demonstrates designable complex three-dimensional shape-morphing. The developed CBLCEs hold great promise for advancing artificial muscle applications in soft robotics, expanding their potential for broader applications.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
仿生学
·
机器人学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2024
·
IF 8.3
Shirong Jing,Jinhui Huang,Huan Wang,Yilei Wang,Hui Xie,Shaobing Zhou
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), as a classical two-way shape-memory material, are good candidates for developing artificial muscles that mimic the contraction, expansion, or rotational behavior of natural muscles. However, biomimicry is currently focused more on the actuation functions of natural muscles dominated by muscle fibers, whereas the tactile sensing functions that are dominated by neuronal receptors and synapses have not been well captured. Very few studies have reported the sensing concept for LCEs, but the signals were still donated by macroscopic actuation, that is, variations in angle or length. Herein, we develop a conductive porous LCE (CPLCE) using a solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO))-templated photo-cross-linking strategy, followed by carbon nanotube (CNT) incorporation. The CPLCE has excellent reversible contraction/elongation behavior in a manner similar to the actuation functions of skeletal muscles. Moreover, the CPLCE shows excellent pressure-sensing performance by providing real-time electrical signals and is capable of microtouch sensing, which is very similar to natural tactile sensing. Furthermore, macroscopic actuation and tactile sensation can be integrated into a single system. Proof-of-concept studies reveal that the CPLCE-based artificial muscle is sensitive to external touch while maintaining its excellent actuation performance. The CPLCE with tactile sensation beyond reversible actuation is expected to benefit the development of versatile artificial muscles and intelligent robots.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物仿生学
·
传感器技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Advanced Science
·
2024
·
IF 14.3
Qingming Kong,Yu Tan,Haiyang Zhang,Tengyang Zhu,Yitan Li,Yongzheng Xing,Xu Wang
Inspired by the Mimosa plant, this study herein develops a unique dynamic shape memory polymer (SMP) network capable of transitioning from hard to pliable with heat, featuring reversible actuation, self-healing, recyclability, and degradability. This material is adept at simulating the functionalities of artificial muscles for a variety of tasks, with a remarkable specific energy density of 1.8 J g −1 —≈46 times higher than that of human skeletal muscle. As an intelligent manipulator, it demonstrates remarkable proficiency in identifying and handling items at high temperatures. Its suitable rate of shape recovery around human body temperature indicates its promising utility as an implant material for addressing acute obstructions. The dynamic covalent bonding within the network structure not only provides excellent resistance to solvents but also bestows remarkable abilities for self-healing, reprocessing, and degradation. These attributes significantly boost its practicality and environmental sustainability. Anticipated to promote advancements in the sectors of biomedical devices, soft robotics, and smart actuators, this SMP network represents a forward leap in simulating artificial muscles, marking a stride toward the future of adaptive and sustainable technology.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
·
软体机器人技术
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2017
·
IF 7.504
Ye Tian,Xiaoshuang Wei,Zhi Jian Wang,Pengju Pan,Fangyuan Li,Daishun Ling,Zi Liang Wu,Qiang Zheng
We report a facile approach to prepare ultrathin physical hydrogel films based on the Marangoni effect, which drives an ethanol solution of poly(stearyl acrylate-co-acrylic acid) (P(SA-co-AAc)) to rapidly spread on the water surface. The subsequent solvent exchange leads to sol–gel transition, where the long alkyl chains of SA units segregate to form physical cross-linking junctions. The resultant disk-shaped single-network (SN) gel films are uniform with tunable thickness (40–80 μm) and diameter (5–12 cm) and possess robust mechanical properties with tensile breaking stress, σb, and breaking strain, εb, being 0.3–1.1 MPa and 30–290%, respectively. The mechanical properties of SN gel films can be further improved by introducing ductile poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) into the preformed gel matrix, which forms strong hydrogen bonds with the first network. The obtained physical double-network (DN) hydrogel films are transparent and show excellent mechanical performances with σb of 3–5 MPa and εb of 100–500%. Due to the ultrathin thickness of gel films and response of PNIPAm to saline solutions, the tough DN gel films exhibit fast response (≤60 s) and large stroke force (0.5 MPa) after switching the environment from water bath to saline solution, making them an ideal material to design artificial muscles, soft actuators, and chemomechanical devices.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物工程
·
软体机器人
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
·
2022
·
IF 10.383
Zhihao He,Shasha Jiao,Zhengping Wang,Yifan Wang,Mengyu Yang,Ye Zhang,Yiwei Liu,Yuanzhao Wu,Jie Shang,Qingming Chen,Run-Wei Li
Ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMC), one of the most popular materials in the field of artificial muscle research, have attracted much attention because of their high flexibility, low drive voltage (<10 V), high force density, large deformation, and so forth. However, the results show that the serious electrode fatigue crack and water loss of traditional IPMC greatly decrease its fatigue life and limit the practical application. In this study, we developed a novel liquid metal composite electrode. A layer of eutectic gallium–indium alloy (EGaIn) liquid metal was applied to the surface of the platinum electrode of the IPMC using a mask. Because of the good self-healing performance of the liquid metal, it is expected to solve the above problems of resistance increase and water loss caused by cracks. It turns out that the prepared EGaIn/Pt-IPMC exhibits a driving force up to 120 mN and maximum fatigue life of about 25,000 s at a driving voltage of 3 V. Compared with the best work reported, the fatigue strength of EGaIn/Pt-IPMC was increased by about 210%, and the maximum driving force of EGaIn/Pt-IPMC prepared by a single-layer basement membrane was between the IPMC prepared by 4–6 layer basement membrane. The electromechanical properties were significantly improved, and it is expected to realize a series of bionic applications.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物仿生学
·
智能材料
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Materials Horizons
·
2021
·Vol. 8
·期 9
·2541-2552
·
IF 13.266
Lizhong Dong,Ming Ren,Yulian Wang,Jian Qiao,Yulong Wu,Jianfeng He,Xulin Wei,Jiangtao Di,Qingwen Li
Artificial muscle fibers as a promising biomimetic actuator are needed for such applications as smart soft robots, muscle function restoration, and physical augmentation. Currently developed artificial muscle fibers have shown attractive performance in contractile and torsional actuations. However, the contractile muscle fibers do not have the capability of stimulus-responsive elongation, and real-time identifying their contractile position by themselves is still challenging. We report herein the preparation of a Ti3C2Tx MXene/single walled carbon-nanotubes (SWCNTs)-coated carbon nanotube (CNT)@polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coaxial muscle fiber that integrates the important features of self-position sensing and bi-lengthwise actuation. The bi-lengthwise actuation is realized by utilizing the large expansion coefficient difference of PDMS in response to solvent and heat, which results in ∼5% maximum elongation by n-heptane adsorption and ∼19% maximum contraction by electric heating under the optimal conditions. Meanwhile, due to the piezoresistive effect of the MXene/SWCNTs layer, the resistance change of this coating layer is almost linearly dependent on the contraction of the coaxial muscle fiber, providing a function of real-time self-position sensing. Furthermore, an application of using a bundle of these multifunctional coaxial muscle fibers for a bionic arm has been demonstrated, which provides new insights into the design of integrated intelligent artificial muscles with synergistic multiple functions.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物医学工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
·
2024
·
IF 18.5
Xiaoshuang Zhou,Mingxia Li,Xiaoting Cao,Xu Dong,Shaoli Fang,Lvzhou Li,Ningyi Yuan,Jianning Ding,Ray H. Baughman
Yarn artificial muscles offer an exciting avenue to replicate the extraordinary efficiency of biological muscles, converting chemical energy directly into mechanical work. Nevertheless, realizing the chemical-mechanical energy conversion has posed significant challenges. In this study, a novel approach for harnessing direct catalysis to power yarn artificial muscles within a one-compartment aqueous system is introduced. This research distinguishes itself through an innovative actuation mechanism using nanoscale catalytic particles. These nanoparticles synthesized and integrated onto the yarn surface act as a chemical trigger for muscle actuation. Notably, the resulting yarn muscle demonstrates a reversible tensile stroke of nearly 4% in ≈20 s. By bridging the gap between chemical catalysis and mechanical performance, this study paves the way for innovative applications in fields ranging from robotics to biomedical devices.
研究领域:
材料科学
·
生物工程
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）