Oh Min-Ha, Kim Young-Hwan, Han Jieun, Kim Yongsub, Kim Daewhan, Kim Kyung-Sub, Lee Ju-Yong, Kim Sang-Koog, Kwon Min Sang, Kim Sang Yup, Kang Seung-Kyun
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea.
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2024 Mar 13;16(10):13139-13149. doi: 10.1021/acsami.3c19613. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
Lifetime-reconfigurable soft robots have emerged as a new class of robots, emphasizing the unmet needs of futuristic sustainability and security. Trigger-transient materials that can both actuate and degrade on-demand are crucial for achieving life-reconfigurable soft robots. Here, we propose the use of transient and magnetically actuating materials that can decompose under ultraviolet light and heat, achieved by adding photo-acid generator (PAG) and magnetic particles (Sr-ferrite) to poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC). Chemical and thermal analyses reveal that the mechanism of PPC-PAG decomposition occurs through PPC backbone cleavage by the photo-induced acid. The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) encapsulation of Sr-ferrite preventing the interaction with the PAG allowed the transience of magnetic soft actuators. We demonstrate remotely controllable and degradable magnetic soft kirigami actuators using blocks with various magnetized directions. This study proposes novel approaches for fabricating lifetime-configurable magnetic soft actuators applicable to diverse environments and applications, such as enclosed/sealed spaces and security/military devices.
