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.

目前的提案旨在开发导电液晶弹性体（EC-LCE），它既可以作为机械变形和环境条件的传感器，也可以作为刺激驱动的软机器人应用的执行器。一方面，传感功能依赖于响应变形或环境变化（温度、湿度和紫外线强度）而发生的电阻变化，这为诸如可以感知人体运动和外部刺激的电子皮肤等应用提供了基础。另一方面，驱动能力是由液晶（有序）到聚合物的各向同性（无序）相变时的可逆宏观形状变化产生的，这使得机器人功能和运动能够由例如光驱动。在本研究项目中，我们将合成各种合理设计的EC-LCE（包括带有离子液体部分的LCE和在互连孔道中填充离子液体或液态金属的多孔LCE），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微型、环境自适应和刺激驱动软机器人的 LCE 领域开辟了新的方向。除了培训高素质人才外，我们还期望在能够承受大变形并具有刺激控制移动性的导电材料方面取得重要发现和突破。