Journal Article

Near‐Infrared Light‐Driven MXene/Liquid Crystal Elastomer Bimorph Membranes for Closed‐Loop Controlled Self‐Sensing Bionic Robots

Niu, Mingjun, Meng, Lingxian, Zhang, Xiaomeng, Liu, Shuiren, Zhang, Juzhong, Liu, Xuying, Hao, Zijuan, Liu, Yang, Gao, Yadong, Yang, Youwei

2024

Overview

More recently, soft actuators have evoked great interest in the next generation of soft robots. Despite significant progress, the majority of current soft actuators suffer from the lack of real‐time sensory feedback and self‐control functions, prohibiting their effective sensing and multitasking functions. Therefore, in this work, a near‐infrared‐driven bimorph membrane, with self‐sensing and feedback loop control functions, is produced by layer by layer (LBL) assembling MXene/PDDA (PM) onto liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) film. The versatile integration strategy successfully prevents the separation issues that arise from moduli mismatch between the sensing and the actuating layers, ultimately resulting in a stable and tightly bonded interface adhesion. As a result, the resultant membrane exhibited excellent mechanical toughness (tensile strengths equal to 16.3 MPa (||)), strong actuation properties (actuation stress equal to 1.56 MPa), and stable self‐sensing (gauge factor equal to 4.72) capabilities. When applying the near‐infrared (NIR) laser control, the system can perform grasping, traction, and crawling movements. Furthermore, the wing actuation and the closed‐loop controlled motion are demonstrated in combination with the insect microcontroller unit (MCU) models. The remote precision control and the self‐sensing capabilities of the soft actuator pave a way for complex and precise task modulation in the future. A light‐driven and self‐sensing intelligent bilayer soft actuator, the PM‐liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), built with LCE, MXene, and Poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA) is prepared through the layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly strategy; moreover, the high‐precision, self‐sensing and feedback loop control functions are realized. Furthermore, a PM‐LCE‐based closed‐loop control system is also demonstrated.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: biomechanics / closed‐loop / Composite materials / Deformation / Elastomers / Fourier transforms / liquid crystalline elastomers / Medical equipment / photothermal actuators / Polymers / Robotics / Screen printing / self‐sensing