4D Smart Materials: A Hierarchical Manufacturing Platform

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Smart materials, also known as stimuli responsive materials, are drawing significant research attention due to their improved reliability, performance, flexibility and miniaturization compared to their traditional counterparts. Electroactive polymers (EAPs) and thermoactive polymers (TAPs) are classes of smart materials that undergo change in response to electrical and thermal stimuli, respectively. Herein, we propose to develop a novel hierarchical manufacturing platform for 4D smart materials. The long-term objective of this program is to fabricate 4D smart materials with tailored multi-functional behaviors. In comparison to traditional passive 3D materials, 4D active materials, with the addition of a time dimension, have the ability to actuate by undergoing geometrical changes. The proposed research program aims to bridge the gap between the structure of conductive polymers CPs and 1D and 2D nanoparticles and their manufacturing methodologies. Designing and tailoring the properties of EAP sensory and TAP actuation elements requires a bottom-up approach from self-assembly to a macroscopic hierarchical dual sensor/actuator system through which this 4D materials manufacturing platform will be developed. A major application of EAPs/TAPs hybrid is in electronic skins (e-skins), which are flexible, stretchable, and conformable substrates with sensing/actuation capabilities. This research will make a major contribution to the investigation of hierarchical assembly of material structures used to develop new 4D materials systems. This will result in the development of an innovative manufacturing platform for fabricating these new class of hybrid active materials. The proposed research will provide highly qualified personnel with theoretical and hands-on experience in the new field of smart 4D materials design, manufacturing and applications. These active e-skins can be integrated in soft robotics, smart textiles, and wearables and are able to sense a change in the environment and respond in performing programmed tasks. E-skins will have significant benefits in applications such as flexible and personal electronics, and rehabilitation textiles. Active e-skins can be applied in materials for flexible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) where they will be able to detect and characterize changes in materials and geometry and reacting to it. Hence, these active skins will act as a self-monitoring system with a feedback signal and can be employed in electronics, automotive, and aerospace components. In addition, while sensing accuracy of e-skin systems have improved dramatically, the manufacturability and overall multifunctional integration in activating of such systems is to be realized in this research program.