Electro-mechanically controlled assembly of reconfigurable 3D mesostructures and electronic devices based on dielectric elastomer platforms

Abstract The manufacture of 3D mesostructures is receiving rapidly increasing attention, because of the fundamental significance and practical applications across wide-ranging areas. The recently developed approach of buckling-guided assembly allows deterministic formation of complex 3D mesostructures in a broad set of functional materials, with feature sizes spanning nanoscale to centimeter-scale. Previous studies mostly exploited mechanically controlled assembly platforms using elastomer substrates, which limits the capabilities to achieve on-demand local assembly, and to reshape assembled mesostructures into distinct 3D configurations. This work introduces a set of design concepts and assembly strategies to utilize dielectric elastomer actuators as powerful platforms for the electro-mechanically controlled 3D assembly. Capabilities of sequential, local loading with desired strain distributions allow access to precisely tailored 3D mesostructures that can be reshaped into distinct geometries, as demonstrated by experimental and theoretical studies of ∼30 examples. A reconfigurable inductive–capacitive radio-frequency circuit consisting of morphable 3D capacitors serves as an application example.

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DIELECTRIC ELASTOMER ACTUATOR: NEXT GENERATION FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS FOR INNOVATIVE ROBOTICS

Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology for Development ◽

10.33803/jasetd.2017.2-2.3 ◽

2017 ◽

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Dielectric Elastomer ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Robotic Arms ◽

Soft Actuator ◽

Computational Dynamics ◽

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators ◽

Human Muscles

Conventional actuators based on metal and ceramics face challenges in utilizing them for service and welfare robots, which should work cooperatively with human workers. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are a promising alternative to the conventional hard actuators, because they can realize motions which more resemble those of human muscles. Our research aimed at developing a DEA for applications in handling robotic arms and gripper hands for service/welfare robots. To this end, the elements of soft actuator ought to be fabricated and integrated into a large-scale array. Design of the actuator need to be optimized using computational dynamics and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The application of DEA in robotics is expected to create a drive for the practical realization of reliable and functional DEAs. It could also promote commercialization and tap into the vast potential service/welfare robotic market

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Controlled Assembly of Luminescent Lanthanide-Organic Frameworks via Post-Treatment of 3D-Printed Objects

Nano-Micro Letters ◽

10.1007/s40820-020-00543-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jiahui Huang ◽

Peiyi Wu

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Metal Organic Frameworks ◽

Organic Ligand ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Lanthanide Ions ◽

Controlled Assembly ◽

Sensing Platform ◽

3D Assembly ◽

Metal Organic ◽

3D Printed

Abstract Complex multiscale assemblies of metal–organic frameworks are essential in the construction of large-scale optical platforms but often restricted by their bulk nature and conventional techniques. The integration of nanomaterials and 3D printing technologies allows the fabrication of multiscale functional architectures. Our study reports a unique method of controlled 3D assembly purely relying on the post-printing treatment of printed constructs. By immersing a 3D-printed patterned construct consisting of organic ligand in a solution of lanthanide ions, in situ growth of lanthanide metal–organic frameworks (LnMOFs) can rapidly occur, resulting in macroscopic assemblies and tunable fluorescence properties. This phenomenon, caused by coordination and chelation of lanthanide ions, also renders a sub-millimeter resolution and high shape fidelity. As a proof of concept, a type of 3D assembled LnMOFs-based optical sensing platform has demonstrated the feasibility in response to small molecules such as acetone. It is anticipated that the facile printing and design approach developed in this work can be applied to fabricate bespoke multiscale architectures of functional materials with controlled assembly, bringing a realistic and economic prospect.

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