Abstract
A reconfigurable actuator is a stimuli-responsive structure that can be programmed to adapt different shapes under identical stimulus. Reconfigurable actuators that function without control circuitry and are fueled remotely are in great demand to devise adaptive soft robotic devices. Yet, obtaining fast and reliable reconfiguration remains a grand challenge. Here we report a facile fabrication pathway towards reconfigurability, through synergistic use of photochemical and photothermal responses in light-active liquid crystal polymer networks. We utilize azobenzene photoisomerization to locally control the cis-isomer content and to program the actuator response, while subsequent photothermal stimulus actuates the structure, leading to shape morphing. We demonstrate six different shapes reconfigured from one single actuator under identical illumination conditions, and a light-fueled smart gripper that can be commanded to either grip and release or grip and hold an object after ceasing the illumination. We anticipate this work to enable all-optical control over actuator performance, paving way towards reprogrammable soft micro-robotics.
Highlights
A reconfigurable actuator is a stimuli-responsive structure that can be programmed to adapt different shapes under identical stimulus
The inspiration for the soft actuator research often times comes from natural species that are capable of adaptive shape changes, diverse geometric morphing, and highly efficient locomotion[3,4]
Stimuli-responsive soft actuators have proven their potential in realizing bio-inspired soft robots that are miniature in size and can be fueled remotely and wirelessly to yield complex movements[5,6,7]
Summary
We present a fabrication strategy for solving this challenge through a facile pathway towards reconfigurable photoactuation. Our concept is based on synergistic use of the photochemical and photothermal actuation schemes, a combination that we show to yield “actuation on command”. The photochemical and photothermal effects play distinct roles in the synergistic photoactuation in a liquid crystalline polymer network, the former being used for shape programming and the latter for shape morphing. The concept is further utilized to design a smart gripping device that can be commanded to either hold or release the object after ceasing the irradiation. These results offer an approach to reconfigurable micro-robotics with reversible, fully optical control over the shape programming and shape morphing
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