Journal
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Volume 116, Issue 43, Pages 21438-21444Publisher
NATL ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911021116
Keywords
liquid crystal elastomer; liquid metal; shape memory; conductive elastomer; soft actuator
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Funding
- US Army Research Laboratory
- US Army Research Office [W911NF1810150]
- U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) [W911NF1810150] Funding Source: U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
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Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.
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