Nature Nanotechnology ( IF 38.3 ) Pub Date : 2022-06-02 , DOI: 10.1038/s41565-022-01133-0 Chao Lang 1, 2, 3 , Elisabeth C Lloyd 2 , Kelly E Matuszewski 2 , Yifan Xu 2 , Venkat Ganesan 4 , Rui Huang 5 , Manish Kumar 4, 6 , Robert J Hickey 2, 7
High-performance actuating materials are necessary for advances in robotics, prosthetics and smart clothing. Here we report a class of fibre actuators that combine solution-phase block copolymer self-assembly and strain-programmed crystallization. The actuators consist of highly aligned nanoscale structures with alternating crystalline and amorphous domains, resembling the ordered and striated pattern of mammalian skeletal muscle. The reported nanostructured block copolymer muscles excel in several aspects compared with current actuators, including efficiency (75.5%), actuation strain (80%) and mechanical properties (for example, strain-at-break of up to 900% and toughness of up to 121.2 MJ m−3). The fibres exhibit on/off rotary actuation with a peak rotational speed of 450 r.p.m. Furthermore, the reported fibres demonstrate multi-trigger actuation (heat and hydration), offering switchable mechanical properties and various operating modes. The versatility and recyclability of the polymer fibres, combined with the facile fabrication method, opens new avenues for creating multifunctional and recyclable actuators using block copolymers.
中文翻译:
纳米结构的嵌段共聚物肌肉
高性能驱动材料对于机器人技术、假肢和智能服装的进步是必要的。在这里,我们报告了一类结合了溶液相嵌段共聚物自组装和应变程序结晶的纤维致动器。致动器由高度排列的纳米级结构组成,具有交替的结晶域和无定形域,类似于哺乳动物骨骼肌的有序和条纹图案。与目前的驱动器相比,所报道的纳米结构嵌段共聚物肌肉在几个方面都表现出色,包括效率(75.5%)、驱动应变(80%)和机械性能(例如,高达 900% 的断裂应变和高达 900% 的韧性) 121.2 兆焦耳米- 3)。纤维表现出开/关旋转驱动,峰值转速为 450 rpm 此外,报告的纤维表现出多触发驱动(热和水合),提供可切换的机械性能和各种操作模式。聚合物纤维的多功能性和可回收性,结合简便的制造方法,为使用嵌段共聚物制造多功能和可回收执行器开辟了新途径。