Design of Autonomous Gel Actuators

Shuji Hashimoto,Shingo Maeda,Satoshi Nakamaru,Yusuke Hara

doi:10.3390/polym3010299

Shuji Hashimoto, Shingo Maeda + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym3010299

Copy DOI

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce autonomous gel actuators driven by chemical energy. The polymer gels prepared here have cyclic chemical reaction networks. With a cyclic reaction, the polymer gels generate periodical motion. The periodic motion of the gel is produced by the chemical energy of the oscillatory Belouzov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. We have succeeded in making synthetic polymer gel move autonomously like a living organism. This experimental fact represents the great possibility of the chemical robot.

Highlights

Gels have cross-linked networked structures of polymer chains containing solvents; and these gels that swell or shrink due to environmental changes have been studied in various fields [1,2,3,4,5]
It was difficult to observe the peristaltic motion coupled with the chemical wave directly because the mechanical oscillation was too small in comparison to the gel size
We focus on the kinetics of the polymer gel

Summary

Introduction

Gels have cross-linked networked structures of polymer chains containing solvents; and these gels that swell or shrink due to environmental changes have been studied in various fields [1,2,3,4,5]. The phase transition of polymer gel is induced by hydrogen bonds, coulomb, hydrophobic, and van der Waals interactions These devices can operate by controlling external conditions. Dynamic actuation systems by integrating high-aspect-ratio silicon nanocolumns with the PNIPAAm gel have been demonstrated [13] These systems require the complex and fabricated circuit or external control devices because the motion of the polymer gel is driven by external physicochemical signals. In biological systems, there are several autonomous phenomena exhibiting spontaneous motion such as peristaltic motion, heartbeat, brain waves, etc If such a system is achieved in an artificial system, a novel robot which does not need external control would be expected. Gels exhibit a unique capability of undergoing spontaneous volume changes in response to oscillatory chemical reaction. In order to construct gel actuators, we should greatly improve displacement of the gel

Design of Self-Walking Gel

Design of Peristaltic Motion of Polymer Gel

Matter transport

Control of Autonomous Swelling-Deswelling Behavior of a Polymer Gel

Conclusion