Multifunctional Materials and Structures Laboratory, National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Str. 405A, 077125, Magurele, Romania.
Laboratory of Electrochemistry Intelligent Materials and Devices, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Alfonso XIII, 30203, Cartagena, Spain.
Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 2;12(1):15019. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-18955-6.
A non-conventional, bioinspired device based on polypyrrole coated electrospun fibrous microstructures, which simultaneously works as artificial muscle and mechanical sensor is reported. Fibrous morphology is preferred due to its high active surface which can improve the actuation/sensing properties, its preparation still being challenging. Thus, a simple fabrication algorithm based on electrospinning, sputtering deposition and electrochemical polymerization produced electroactive aligned ribbon meshes with analogous characteristics as natural muscle fibers. These can simultaneously generate a movement (by applying an electric current/potential) and sense the effort of holding weights (by measuring the potential/current while holding objects up to 21.1 mg). Electroactivity was consisting in a fast bending/curling motion, depending on the fiber strip width. The amplitude of the movement decreases by increasing the load, a behavior similar with natural muscles. Moreover, when different weights were hung on the device, it senses the load modification, demonstrating a sensitivity of about 7 mV/mg for oxidation and - 4 mV/mg for reduction. These results are important since simultaneous actuation and sensitivity are essential for complex activity. Such devices with multiple functionalities can open new possibilities of applications as e.g. smart prosthesis or lifelike robots.
本文报道了一种基于聚吡咯涂层电纺纤维微结构的非传统仿生器件，它可同时作为人工肌肉和机械传感器使用。由于具有高活性表面，纤维形态可以改善致动/传感性能，但其制备仍然具有挑战性。因此，一种基于静电纺丝、溅射沉积和电化学聚合的简单制造算法，制备出了具有类似天然肌肉纤维特性的电活性取向带状网格。这些网格可以通过施加电流/电位来产生运动（同时通过测量保持物体时的电位/电流来感知保持重量的力，最大可达 21.1mg）。电活性表现为快速弯曲/卷曲运动，这取决于纤维带的宽度。随着负载的增加，运动的幅度减小，这种行为类似于天然肌肉。此外，当不同的重量挂在该装置上时，它可以感知负载的变化，其氧化时的灵敏度约为 7mV/mg，还原时的灵敏度约为-4mV/mg。这些结果很重要，因为同时进行致动和灵敏度对于复杂的活动至关重要。这种具有多种功能的器件可以为智能假肢或类人机器人等应用开辟新的可能性。
