液晶弹性体(LCE)纤维致动器由于具备可逆驱动性能和柔软织造加工特性,使其在软体机器人和智能可穿戴等领域具备广泛的应用前景。首先通过静电纺丝技术和两步交联策略相结合,高效制备LCE微纳米纤维膜,随后采用液态金属(LM)涂层修饰和牵伸工艺开发一种新型光热双响应LCE/LM复合纱线致动器,同时详细探究其驱动性能。结果表明:采用静电纺丝工艺可以制备纤维直径均匀、形态良好的LCE微纳米纤维,经牵伸交联后形成的复合纱线直径为(571.5±3.1)μm,具有良好力学性能和取向特性。得益于LM优异的光热转换性能和LCE纤维内液晶基元的可逆相转变特性,LCE/LM复合纱线致动器显示出良好的光热双响应驱动性能,在6kW/m2的近红外光照或热刺激条件下,纱线致动器在10s内即可达到约55.3%的驱动应变,驱动速度可达18.5mm/s。LM/LCE复合纱线致动器的开发为构建新型光热软体机器人及柔性智能可穿戴器件提供了一条新思路。
Liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fiber actuators have a wide range of applications in fields such as soft robotics and smart wearables due to their reversible actuation performance and soft weaving processing characteristics.LCE micro-nanofiber membranes were first efficiently fabricated by combining electrospinning and a two-step cross-linking strategy,subsequently,a novel photo-thermal dual-responsive LCE/LM composite yarn actuator was developed via a liquid metal (LM) coating modification and drafting process,and the actuation performance was investigated in detail at the same time.The results showed that LCE micro-nanofibers with uniform fiber diameter and good morphology were successfully prepared by the electrospinning process,and the composite yarn formed after drafting and cross-linking had a diameter of (571.5±3.1)μm,with good mechanical properties and orientation characteristics.Benefiting from the excellent photothermal conversion properties of LM and the reversible phase transition of liquid crystal elements within LCE fibers,the LCE/LM composite yarn actuator exhibited good photothermal dual-response actuation performance.The yarn actuator achieved a actuation strain of about 55.3% and an actuation speed of up to 18.5mm/s within 10 s under the condition of near-infrared illumination or thermal stimulation of 6kW/m2.The development of LM/LCE composite yarn actuator provides a new idea for the construction of new photothermal soft robot and flexible smart wearable devices.
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基金资助
国家自然科学基金(52473275和52473178)
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