Dual-mode biomimetic soft actuator with electrothermal and magneto-responsive performance. (1st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Wenwen; Sang, Min; Liu, Shuai; Wang, Bochao; Cao, Xufeng; Liu, Guanghui; Gong, Xinglong; Hao, Lingyun; Xuan, Shouhu
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 238(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01
• Subjects: Actuator -- Electrothermal -- Magnetic -- Thermal management -- MXene; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2022.109880
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: Soft actuators with large deformation and high stability in response to multi-stimuli are highly demanded in biomimetic applications. However, most of the present actuators driven by a single stimulus often exhibit low performance and high energy consumption. In this work, a sandwich structural soft actuator (MPDMS/MXene/PTFE) which possesses electrothermal/magnetic coupling actuation is fabricated by combining magnetic NdFeB/Polydimethylsiloxane (MPDMS) composite layer, MXene film, and PTFE tape together. Due to the large difference of thermal expansion coefficient between MPDMS film and PTFE tape, the soft actuator shows a wonderful electrothermal actuation and the bending deformation can reach to as high as 353° under a 3 V power supply. The excellent electrical conductivity of MXene component endows the sandwich film with good thermal management performance, thus the soft MPDMS/MXene/PTFE sandwich films can be applied in the thermal treatment of body and thermal imaging. Most importantly, the soft actuator also exhibits a typical magnetic biomimetic actuation and the programmable actuation performance of the dragonfly actuator can be demonstrated by both experiments and finite element simulations. Eventually, the electrothermal/magnetic coupling actuation is successfully applied in an intelligent crawling robot to overcome the traditional inchworm movement simulation. Graphical abstract: A dual-mode biomimetic soft actuator based on MPDMS/MXene/PTFE with excellent electrothermal and magnetic drive performance is developed. The soft actuator enables to prepare grippers for transferring objects and assemble the wings of a biomimetic dragonfly in a magnetic field. Finally, a crawling robot is developed to demonstrate the electrothermal/magnetic coupling actuation. Image 1 Highlights: The highlight of this work is: The MPDMS/MXene/PTFE soft actuator presents both electrothermal and magneto-actuated deformation behaviors. The soft actuator shows a wonderful electrothermal actuation and the bending deformation can reach to as high as 353° under a 3 V power supply. The finite element analysis model can provide design guidance for the deformation process of bionic actuator with complex structure. The soft actuator strategy presented in this paper is expected to be useful for the development of bionic intelligent actuators with multi-stimulus response.