Robust Jumping Actuator with a Shrimp-Shell Architecture

It is highly desirable to develop compact- and robust-film jumping robots that can withstand severe conditions. Besides, the demands for strong actuation force, large bending curvature in a short response time, and good environmental tolerance are significant challenges to the material design. To address these challenges, this paper reports the fabrication of a thin-film jumping actuator, which exhibits a shrimp-shell architecture, from a conjugated ladder polymer (cLP) that is connected by carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets. The hierarchical porous structure ensures the fast absorption and desorption of organic vapor, thereby achieving a high response rate. The actuator does not exhibit shape distortion at temperatures of up to 225 degrees C and in concentrated sulfuric acid, as well as when immersed in many organic solvents. This work avails a new design strategy for high-performance actuators that function under harsh and complicated conditions.

Automated summary

This paper presents a thin-film jumping actuator fabricated from a conjugated ladder polymer (cLP) and carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets, exhibiting a shrimp-shell structure and hierarchical porous architecture that allows for rapid absorption and desorption of organic vapor, resulting in high response rate. The actuator shows no shape distortion at high temperatures, concentrated sulfuric acid, and various organic solvents, offering a new design strategy for high-performance actuators that operate in harsh conditions.