Liquid crystal elastomer composite-based photo-oscillator for microrobots
Abstract
In recent years, photoactive materials have attracted extensive interest in microrobots for their attractive abilities of untethered and tunable control with light. Conventional photo-oscillators based on Azo-containing liquid crystal network require complex surface alignment techniques and light sources with specific wavelengths and polarity, which limits their application in controlled autonomy. Here, we report a facile strategy to create self-oscillating microrobots powered and controlled by a wide spectrum of constant light. The oscillators are composed of a layer of candle soot (CS)-containing liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) attached to a layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The strip-shaped oscillators with one end fixed can execute self-sustained oscillation through a self-shadowing mechanism. LCEs with CS as an excellent photo-absorber provides superior photothermal actuation, while PDMS with low viscoelasticity accelerates the actuation-recovery cycle of the oscillator. Our LCE composite photo-oscillators show tunable frequencies and amplitudes by structural and light intensity modulation, showing potential for autonomous soft robotic applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Dec 21, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1177/00219983221146618
Entities
People
- Pengju Shi
- Ximin He
- Yusen Zhao
- Zixiao Liu
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Office of Naval Research
- University of California, Los Angeles