Shape Morphing Polymer Networks Based on Ion Gels

基于离子凝胶的形状变形聚合物网络

• 批准号: 1609972
• 负责人: Ryan Hayward
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-09-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1609972&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Shape; Morphing; Polymer; Networks; Based

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:Polymer-based materials that can undergo rapid programmed changes in three-dimensional (3D) shape, surface texture, and properties have seen major progress in recent years, offering promise for the development of soft robots, tactile interfaces, and adaptive materials that respond to changes in their environment or user needs. However, critical limitations exist on the performance of current-generation materials, motivating the development of new paradigms for responsive polymer networks, alongside efforts to improve our understanding of these materials on both molecular and macroscopic scales. The current project seeks to take advantage of the unique benefits offered by polymer networks based on ionic liquids (ILs), which are salts with low melting points (often below room temperature) that have useful properties including low volatility and good electrical conductivity and stability. The proposed networks of polymers and ILs could enable transformative advances in the design of shape-morphing materials that can operate under a wide range of environmental conditions and in response to low-voltage electrical control signals. The fundamental understanding developed through the work will also hold relevance for IL-based polymer materials in other contexts including soft, flexible, and responsive electronic devices, or as membranes for batteries or fuel cells. The project will engage, mentor, and train a diverse group of participants at a variety of levels ranging from K-12 students and the general public, to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, with a particular emphasis on expanding a partnership with high-school students in nearby Springfield, MA. TECHNICAL SUMMARY:While shape-morphing polymer networks have seen rapid recent advances, state-of-the-art materials suffer from key limitations. For example, stimuli-responsive polymer hydrogels typically rely on exchange of water with their surroundings, limiting operation to aqueous environments, while dielectric elastomer actuators require very high triggering voltages of ca. 10 kV to function. The current effort seeks to take advantage of the special properties of ionic liquid (IL)-based polymer materials, in particular their very low volatility, high ionic conductivity, and good electrochemical stability, to enable new classes of responsive and shape-morphing polymer networks. Motivated by these goals, the PI will conduct fundamental studies of the thermodynamics, response kinetics, mechanics, and electrical characteristics of IL-based polymers and networks, and demonstrate new types of responsive materials that are capable of functioning in non-hydrated environments and in response to low voltage electrical signals. Alongside the new capabilities for the design of soft actuators and shape morphing materials, the fundamental understanding gained will have broad relevance for IL-based polymer networks in stimuli-responsive materials, membranes, and iontronic devices.

非技术摘要：基于聚合物的材料可以经历三维（3D）形状，表面纹理和属性的快速编程变化，近年来取得了重大进展，为软机器人，触觉接口和自适应材料提供了希望，从而有望响应环境或用户需求的变化。但是，在电流生成材料的性能上存在关键局限性，激发了响应式聚合物网络的新范式的发展，以及提高我们对分子和宏观尺度上这些材料的理解的努力。当前的项目旨在利用基于离子液体（ILS）提供的聚合物网络提供的独特好处，这些盐是具有低熔点（通常低于室温）的盐，其具有有用的特性，包括低波动性和良好的电导率和稳定性。 提出的聚合物和IL网络可以在形状变形材料的设计中实现变革性的进步，这些材料可以在各种环境条件下运行，并响应低压电气控制信号。通过这项工作发展的基本理解还将在其他情况下与基于IL的聚合物材料（包括软，灵活和响应式电子设备）或电池或燃料电池的膜相关。该项目将在各个层次上吸引，指导和培训各种各样的参与者，从K-12学生和公众到研究生和博士后研究员，特别强调与马萨诸塞州斯普林菲尔德附近的高中生扩大合作伙伴关系。技术摘要：虽然形状变形的聚合物网络已获得最近的迅速发展，但最先进的材料受到关键局限性。例如，刺激响应的聚合物水凝胶通常依赖于周围的水交换，将操作限制在水性环境中，而介电弹性体执行器需要非常高的触发电压。 10 kV的功能。目前的努力旨在利用离子液体（IL）基于基于的聚合物材料的特殊特性，尤其是它们非常低的波动率，高离子电导率和良好的电化学稳定性，以启用新的响应性和形状 - 连续性聚合物网络。受这些目标的促进，PI将对基于IL的聚合物和网络的热力学，反应动力学，力学和电气特性进行基础研究，并展示能够在非氢气环境中运行的新型响应材料，并响应低压电信号。 除了设计软驱动器和形状变形材料的新功能外，获得的基本理解将与刺激反应性材料，膜和离子型设备中的基于IL的聚合物网络具有广泛的相关性。