Liquid Crystal Polymer Actuators for Deformable Electronics and Soft Robotics

用于可变形电子设备和软机器人的液晶聚合物执行器

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04090
• 负责人: Zhao, Yue
• 金额: $ 6.7万
• 依托单位: Université de Sherbrooke
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748724
• 关键词: Liquid; Crystal; Polymer; Actuators; Deformable

The present proposal aims to develop electrically conductive liquid crystalline elastomers (EC-LCEs) that can function both as sensor for mechanical deformations and environmental conditions and as actuator for stimuli-driven soft robotics applications. On one hand, the sensing functionality relies on electrical resistance changes in response to deformations or changing environment (temperature, humidity and UV light intensity), which provides the basis for such applications as e-skins that can sense human motions and external stimuli. On the other hand, the actuation capacity results from reversible macroscopic shape change upon liquid crystal (order) to isotropic (disorder) phase transition of the polymer, which enables robotic functions and locomotion powered by, for example, light. In this research program, we will synthesize a variety of rationally designed EC-LCEs (including LCEs bearing ionic liquid moieties and porous LCEs with ionic liquid or liquid metal filled in interconnected pore channels) and investigate their integrated sensing and actuation properties. Our proposed research program opens up a new direction for both the field of materials for deformable electronics and the field of LCEs for miniature, environment-adaptive and stimuli-driven soft robots. In addition to training highly qualified personnel, we expect important discoveries and breakthroughs on conducting materials that can sustain large deformations and have stimuli-controlled mobility.

目前的建议旨在开发导电液晶弹性体(EC-LCE)，既可以作为机械变形和环境条件的传感器，也可以作为激励驱动的软机器人应用的执行器。一方面，传感功能依赖于随着变形或环境变化(温度、湿度和紫外线强度)而发生的电阻变化，这为电子皮肤等可以感知人体运动和外部刺激的应用提供了基础。另一方面，驱动能力源于聚合物的液晶(有序)到各向同性(无序)相变的可逆宏观形状变化，这使得例如由光驱动的机器人功能和运动成为可能。在本研究计划中，我们将合成各种设计合理的EC-LCEs(包括含有离子液体部分的LCEs和填充在相互连接的孔道中的离子液体或液体金属的多孔LCEs)，并研究它们的集成传感和驱动性能。我们提出的研究计划为可变形电子材料领域和用于微型、环境适应性和刺激驱动的软机器人的LCES领域开辟了新的方向。除了培训高素质的人员外，我们还期待在能够承受大变形并具有刺激可控流动性的导电材料方面取得重要发现和突破。