Transformative Skin: Controlled Electromechanical Instability on Polymer Surfaces

变革性皮肤：控制聚合物表面的机电不稳定性

• 批准号: 1463732
• 负责人: Xuanhe Zhao
• 金额: $ 22.17万
• 依托单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-09-01 至 2016-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1463732&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Transformative; Skin; Controlled; Electromechanical; Instability

The research objective of this grant is to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of novel polymer systems capable of dynamically transforming their surface patterns and roughness under the control of electrical voltages. These so-called transformative skins are based on a new mode of surface electromechanical instability recently discovered by the PIs. The instability leads to a rich variety of surface patterns ranging from randomly oriented creases and craters to aligned lines with tunable feature sizes from millimeters to tens of nanometers. The proposed project will integrate a suite of experimental, theoretical, and computational tools to systematically understand the surface electromechanical instability. Specific goals include the development of 1) an experimental system to simultaneously generate instability patterns and characterize their three-dimensional topography under voltages, 2) a non-linear field theory to analyze the formation of the instability patterns, and 3) coupled-field models and numerical methods to simulate the formation and evolution of the instability patterns.If successful, this interdisciplinary collaborative effort will lead to the first systematic understanding of surface electromechanical instabilities, with the potential to significantly expand the use of functional surfaces and electrical polymers. The novel transformative skins have a broad range of important applications, including on-demand super-hydrophobicity, adaptive optics, controlled adhesion, transfer printing, and antifouling. Conversely, surface electromechanical instabilities can trigger electrical breakdowns and failures of various polymers in energy applications, including insulating cables, organic capacitors, polymer actuators, and generators. The current project will provide a theoretical foundation for judicious design of electrical-polymer systems by either harnessing or eliminating the same instability for different applications. Graduate and undergraduate students will receive training in both numerical and experimental methods related to soft and active materials. This grant further includes a coordinated effort to recruit students from underrepresented populations in science and engineering to enter into this exciting new field of research.

该基金的研究目标是阐明新型聚合物系统能够在电压控制下动态改变其表面图案和粗糙度的基本机制。 这些所谓的变形皮肤是基于PI最近发现的表面机电不稳定性的新模式。 这种不稳定性导致了各种各样的表面图案，从随机取向的折痕和凹坑到具有从毫米到几十纳米的可调特征尺寸的对齐线。 该项目将整合一套实验，理论和计算工具，以系统地了解表面机电不稳定性。 具体目标包括：1）开发一个实验系统，以同时产生不稳定模式并表征其在电压下的三维形貌; 2）分析不稳定模式形成的非线性场理论; 3）模拟不稳定模式形成和演变的耦合场模型和数值方法。如果成功，这一跨学科的合作努力将导致对表面机电不稳定性的第一次系统性理解，并有可能显著扩大功能表面和电聚合物的使用。 这种新型的变革性皮肤具有广泛的重要应用，包括按需超疏水性、自适应光学、受控粘附、转印和印刷。 相反，表面机电不稳定性可触发能量应用中各种聚合物的电击穿和故障，包括绝缘电缆、有机电容器、聚合物致动器和发电机。 目前的项目将为电聚合物系统的明智设计提供理论基础，通过利用或消除不同应用中的相同不稳定性。 研究生和本科生将接受与软材料和活性材料相关的数值和实验方法的培训。 该补助金还包括协调努力，从科学和工程领域代表性不足的人群中招募学生，进入这一令人兴奋的新研究领域。