scholarly journals A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (43) ◽  
pp. 21438-21444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Ford ◽  
Cedric P. Ambulo ◽  
Teresa A. Kent ◽  
Eric J. Markvicka ◽  
Chengfeng Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
Robot Locomotion ◽  
Mesoscale Structures ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Liquid Crystal Phase Transition ◽  
Macroscopic Shape

Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.

Size of liquid metal particles influences actuation properties of a liquid crystal elastomer composite

Soft Matter ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (25) ◽  
pp. 5878-5885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Ford ◽  
Maduran Palaniswamy ◽  
Cedric P. Ambulo ◽  
Taylor H. Ware ◽  
Carmel Majidi
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Metal Particle ◽  
Metal Particles ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
Metal Particle Size

A shape-morphing composite exhibits tunable actuation properties (stroke and force output) that are influenced by liquid metal particle size.

Untethered soft robotic matter with passive control of shape morphing and propulsion

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (33) ◽  
pp. eaax7044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arda Kotikian ◽  
Connor McMahan ◽  
Emily C. Davidson ◽  
Jalilah M. Muhammad ◽  
Robert D. Weeks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Passive Control ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Pentagonal Prism ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
Thermal Stimuli ◽  
Bending Response

There is growing interest in creating untethered soft robotic matter that can repeatedly shape-morph and self-propel in response to external stimuli. Toward this goal, we printed soft robotic matter composed of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) bilayers with orthogonal director alignment and different nematic-to-isotropic transition temperatures (TNI) to form active hinges that interconnect polymeric tiles. When heated above their respective actuation temperatures, the printed LCE hinges exhibit a large, reversible bending response. Their actuation response is programmed by varying their chemistry and printed architecture. Through an integrated design and additive manufacturing approach, we created passively controlled, untethered soft robotic matter that adopts task-specific configurations on demand, including a self-twisting origami polyhedron that exhibits three stable configurations and a “rollbot” that assembles into a pentagonal prism and self-rolls in programmed responses to thermal stimuli.

4D-Printable Liquid Metal–Liquid Crystal Elastomer Composites

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cedric P. Ambulo ◽  
Michael J. Ford ◽  
Kyle Searles ◽  
Carmel Majidi ◽  
Taylor H. Ware
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Elastomer Composites

scholarly journals Liquid Crystal Elastomer‐Based Magnetic Composite Films for Reconfigurable Shape‐Morphing Soft Miniature Machines

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 2006191
Author(s):  
Jiachen Zhang ◽  
Yubing Guo ◽  
Wenqi Hu ◽  
Ren Hao Soon ◽  
Zoey S. Davidson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Magnetic Composite ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing

scholarly journals Light-Driven Linear Inchworm Motor Based on Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators Fabricated with Rubbing Overwriting

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 6688
Author(s):  
Mikołaj Rogóż ◽  
Jakub Haberko ◽  
Piotr Wasylczyk
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Power Supply ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Linear Motor ◽  
Green Laser ◽  
Linear Displacement ◽  
Shaft Length ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Linear Motors ◽  
Scientific Instrumentation

Linear displacement is used for positioning and scanning, e.g., in robotics at different scales or in—scientific instrumentation. Most linear motors are either powered by rotary drives or are driven directly by pressure, electromagnetic forces or a shape change in a medium, such as piezoelectrics or shape-memory materials. Here, we present a centimeter-scale light-powered linear inchworm motor, driven by two liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) accordion-like actuators. The rubbing overwriting technique was used to fabricate the LCE actuators, made of elastomer film with patterned alignment. In the linear motor, a scanned green laser beam induces a sequence of travelling deformations in a pair of actuators that move a gripper, which couples to a shaft via friction moving it with an average speed in the order of millimeters per second. The prototype linear motor demonstrates how LCE light-driven actuators with a limited stroke can be used to drive more complex mechanisms, where large displacements can be achieved, defined only by the technical constrains (the shaft length in our case), and not by the limited strain of the material. Inchworm motors driven by LCE actuators may be scaled down to sub-millimeter size and can be used in applications where remote control and power supply with light, either delivered in free space beams or via fibers, is an advantage.

Liquid crystal elastomer actuator with serpentine locomotion

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (55) ◽  
pp. 7597-7600
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Xin-Bao Hu ◽  
Bo Zuo ◽  
Shuai Huang ◽  
Xu-Man Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Soft Actuator ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
S Curve

In this manuscript, we describe a snake-mimic soft actuator with serpentine locomotion, which can move forward relying on a reversible shape morphing between S-curve and reverse S-curve structures.

A Novel Side‐Chain Liquid Crystal Elastomer Exhibiting Anomalous Reversible Shape Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 132 (35) ◽  
pp. 15241-15246
Author(s):  
Lu Yin ◽  
Li Han ◽  
Feijie Ge ◽  
Xia Tong ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer

A Novel Side‐Chain Liquid Crystal Elastomer Exhibiting Anomalous Reversible Shape Change

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (35) ◽  
pp. 15129-15134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Yin ◽  
Li Han ◽  
Feijie Ge ◽  
Xia Tong ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer
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