Issue 41, 2022

A novel smart composite: from self-powered sensors to multi-responsive shape memory actuators

Abstract

Soft robotics systems, including soft sensors and actuators, have attracted extensive scientific interest due to their broad applications in various fields. However, it is challenging to realize both sensing and actuating functions by one material, due to different performance requirements. Here, a novel composite with tunable functional applications from self-powered hydrogel sensors to multi-responsive actuators was developed. In the hydrogel state, the composites show high stretchability, self-adhesion and self-healing, while the fabricated hydrogel-based triboelectric nanogenerators possess high electrical output performance, which enables the devices to harvest biomechanical energy and serve as sensors to monitor human motion. In the dry state, the composites could exhibit thermo-, near infrared light- and humidity-induced shape memory performance, demonstrating their great potential applications as multi-responsive actuators. Furthermore, the function of the composites as self-powered sensors or multi-responsive actuators could be easily tuned on demand by adjusting the water content, which enhances their future prospects in application for soft robotics.

Graphical abstract: A novel smart composite: from self-powered sensors to multi-responsive shape memory actuators

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Aug 2022
Accepted
21 Sep 2022
First published
22 Sep 2022

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022,10, 22205-22213

A novel smart composite: from self-powered sensors to multi-responsive shape memory actuators

Y. Li, X. Xie, Q. Zhu, S. Lu and Y. Bai, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2022, 10, 22205 DOI: 10.1039/D2TA06626B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements