Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Oct 22;116(43):21438-21444. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1911021116. Epub 2019 Oct 7.
Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.
天然软组织通过分子、微观和中观结构及其有序性实现了丰富多样的功能。受此类结构的启发，我们引入了一种柔软的多功能复合材料，它能够将传感、机械坚固的电子连接和主动形状变形独特地结合在一起。该材料由柔顺且可变形的液晶弹性体（LCE）基质组成，通过液晶相转变可实现宏观形状变化。基质中分散有液态金属（LM）微颗粒，可调整 LCE 的热导率和电导率，而不会对其机械或形状变形性能造成不利影响。该复合材料在传感、致动、电路和软体机器人运动方面的演示表明了其具有多功能性和组织样特性的潜力。
