Robust scalable reversible strong adhesion by gecko-inspired composite design

Bio-inspired reversible adhesion has significant potential in many fields requiring flexible grasping and manipulation, such as precision manufacturing, flexible electronics, and intelligent robotics. Despite extensive efforts for adhesive synthesis with a high adhesion strength at the interface, an effective strategy to actively tune the adhesion capacity between a strong attachment and an easy detachment spanning a wide range of scales has been lagged. Herein, we report a novel soft-hard-soft sandwiched composite design to achieve a stable, repeatable, and reversible strong adhesion with an easily scalable performance for a large area ranging from similar to 1.5 to 150 cm(2) and a high load ranging from similar to 20 to 700 N. Theoretical studies indicate that this design can enhance the uniform loading for attachment by restraining the lateral shrinkage in the natural state, while facilitate a flexible peeling for detachment by causing stress concentration in the bending state, yielding an adhesion switching ratio of similar to 54 and a switching time of less than similar to 0.2 s. This design is further integrated into versatile grippers, climbing robots, and human climbing grippers, demonstrating its robust scalability for a reversible strong adhesion. This biomimetic design bridges microscopic interfacial interactions with macroscopic controllable applications, providing a universal and feasible paradigm for adhesion design and control.

Automated summary

The new design enhances uniform loading for attachment by restricting lateral shrinkage in the natural state, while facilitating flexible peeling for detachment by causing stress concentration in the bending state. It has easily scalable performance for a large area ranging from 1.5 to 150 cm(2) and a high load ranging from 20 to 700 N.