Issue 39, 2020

Stimuli-responsive functional materials for soft robotics

Abstract

Functional materials have spurred the advancement of soft robotics with the potential to perform safe interactions and adaptative functions in unstructured environments. The responses of functional materials under external stimuli lend themselves to programmable actuation and sensing, opening up new possibilities of robot design with built-in mechanical intelligence and unlocking new applications. Here, we review the development of stimuli-responsive functional materials particularly used for soft robotic systems. This review covers five representative types of soft stimuli-responsive functional materials, namely (i) dielectric elastomers, (ii) hydrogels, (iii) shape memory polymers, (iv) liquid crystal elastomers, and (v) magnetic materials, with focuses on their inherent material properties, working mechanisms, and design strategies for actuation and sensing. We also highlight the state-of-the-art applications of soft stimuli-responsive functional materials in locomotion robots, grippers and sensors. Finally, we summarize the current challenges and map out future trends for engineering next-generation functional materials for soft robotics.

Graphical abstract: Stimuli-responsive functional materials for soft robotics

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
26 iyn 2020
Accepted
18 avq 2020
First published
18 avq 2020

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020,8, 8972-8991

Stimuli-responsive functional materials for soft robotics

Z. Shen, F. Chen, X. Zhu, K. Yong and G. Gu, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2020, 8, 8972 DOI: 10.1039/D0TB01585G

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