Electro-Responsive Underwater Adhesive based on Mussel Adhesive Chemistry FY2019-000275-AS
Abstract
Smart adhesive that can bond and debond on command has potential to contribute to the research efforts central to the missions of the Office of Naval Research. Adhesives that provide strong yet temporary wet adhesion can be used to anchor and release underwater sensors and devices, and increase the mobility of automated or unmanned underwater vehicles or robots. Additionally, smart bioadhesive can enhance warfighter performance and their health and recovery from injury through better integration of wearable sensors, and the development of painlessly removable wound dressings and temporary adhesives that enable the fixation of prosthesis and implantable medical devices.However, existing smart adhesives are limited by their inability to bind to wet surfaces, adhesion to only a specific type of substrate, require extreme conditions to debond (i.e., high temperature), and limited cycles of reversibility. Current proposal exploit the redox chemistry found in adhesive proteins secreted by marine mussels to develop a novel smart adhesive that is 1) moisture-resistant, 2) able to bind to a wide variety of surfaces substrates, 3) rapidly responsive, and 4) responsive to applied electricity for interfacing with electronic devices. The proposed adhesive system is composed of catechol adhesive moiety found in mussel adhesive proteins, which can bind to both inorganic (i.e., metal, minerals) and organic (i.e., marine organism fouled surfaces, polymer) surface substrates in a wet and saline environment. Catechol exhibits an order of magnitude difference in adhesive properties depending on its oxidation state. Additionally, boronic acid will be introduced as a protecting group to preserve the reversibility of catechol for repeated adhesive contacts.The objectives of the proposed work include 1) prepare adhesive with increased conductivity, 2)determine the effect of bulk properties on reversible adhesion, and 3) fabricate adhesive complex with controlled and reversible chemistry within the adhesive. The long term goal of this project is to develop moisture-resistant smart adhesive that can attach to and detach from surface substrates in respond to applied electricity. An electricity-responsive adhesive can be seamlessly integrated with electronic devices, which will provide users with unprecedented control in tuning the interfacial binding properties of the adhesive.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012230
Entities
People
- Bruce P Lee
Organizations
- Michigan Technological University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy