Molecular-channel driven actuator with considerations for multiple configurations and color switching

The ability to achieve simultaneous intrinsic deformation with fast response in commercially available materials that can safely contact skin continues to be an unresolved challenge for artificial actuating materials. Rather than using a microporous structure, here we show an ambient-driven actuator that takes advantage of inherent nanoscale molecular channels within a commercial perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer (PFSA) film, fabricated by simple solution processing to realize a rapid response, self-adaptive, and exceptionally stable actuation. Selective patterning of PFSA films on an inert soft substrate (polyethylene terephthalate film) facilitates the formation of a range of different geometries, including a 2D (two-dimensional) roll or 3D (three-dimensional) helical structure in response to vapor stimuli. Chemical modification of the surface allowed the development of a kirigami-inspired single-layer actuator for personal humidity and heat management through macroscale geometric design features, to afford a bilayer stimuli-responsive actuator with multicolor switching capability.Intrinsic deformation with fast response in commercially available materials that can safely contact skin continues to be a challenge for artificial actuating materials. Here the authors incorporate nanoscale molecular channels within perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer for self-adaptive and ambient-driven actuation.

[1]  Lei Jiang,et al.  Nanofluidics in two-dimensional layered materials: inspirations from nature. , 2017, Chemical Society reviews.

[2]  K. Karan,et al.  Impact of Substrate and Processing on Confinement of Nafion Thin Films , 2014 .

[3]  S. Rowan,et al.  Stimuli-responsive, mechanically-adaptive polymer nanocomposites , 2011 .

[4]  K. Kim,et al.  A novel method of manufacturing three-dimensional ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) biomimetic sensors, actuators and artificial muscles , 2002 .

[5]  Robert B. Moore,et al.  State of understanding of nafion. , 2004, Chemical reviews.

[6]  Qiang Zhao,et al.  An instant multi-responsive porous polymer actuator driven by solvent molecule sorption , 2014, Nature Communications.

[7]  S. Grot,et al.  SANS Study of the Effects of Water Vapor Sorption on the Nanoscale Structure of Perfluorinated Sulfonic Acid (NAFION) Membranes , 2006 .

[8]  Xuemei Sun,et al.  Tunable Photothermal Actuators Based on a Pre-programmed Aligned Nanostructure. , 2016, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[9]  Moon Jeong Park,et al.  Fast low-voltage electroactive actuators using nanostructured polymer electrolytes , 2013, Nature Communications.

[10]  Eric M.V. Hoek,et al.  A review of water treatment membrane nanotechnologies , 2011 .

[11]  Huisheng Peng,et al.  Unusual reversible photomechanical actuation in polymer/nanotube composites. , 2012, Angewandte Chemie.

[12]  D. Tyler,et al.  Stimuli-Responsive Polymer Nanocomposites Inspired by the Sea Cucumber Dermis , 2008, Science.

[13]  A. Volkov,et al.  Morphing structures and signal transduction in Mimosa pudica L. induced by localized thermal stress. , 2013, Journal of plant physiology.

[14]  Y Ueno,et al.  The voltage-sensitive sodium channel is a bell-shaped molecule with several cavities , 2001, Nature.

[15]  Magali Lallemand,et al.  Co-occurrence of tannin and tannin-less vacuoles in sensitive plants , 2015, Protoplasma.

[16]  S. Paddison,et al.  Transport in proton conductors for fuel-cell applications: simulations, elementary reactions, and phenomenology. , 2004, Chemical reviews.

[17]  Kazuhide Ueno,et al.  An Electro‐ and Thermochromic Hydrogel as a Full‐Color Indicator , 2007 .

[18]  Han Yan,et al.  Pull-In Effect of Suspended Microchannel Resonator Sensor Subjected to Electrostatic Actuation , 2017, Sensors.

[19]  Y. Hara,et al.  A Pendulum-Like Motion of Nanofiber Gel Actuator Synchronized with External Periodic pH Oscillation , 2011 .

[20]  Yongliang Ni,et al.  Chromogenic Photonic Crystals Enabled by Novel Vapor‐Responsive Shape‐Memory Polymers , 2015, Advanced materials.

[21]  Leonid Ionov,et al.  Unusual and Superfast Temperature‐Triggered Actuators , 2015, Advanced materials.

[22]  Yucheng Ding,et al.  Photoresponsive Soft‐Robotic Platform: Biomimetic Fabrication and Remote Actuation , 2014 .

[23]  Malav S. Desai,et al.  Light-controlled graphene-elastin composite hydrogel actuators. , 2013, Nano letters.

[24]  Qiang Zhao,et al.  Flexible and Actuating Nanoporous Poly(Ionic Liquid)-Paper-Based Hybrid Membranes. , 2017, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[25]  J. Ji,et al.  Humidity responsive asymmetric free-standing multilayered film. , 2010, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[26]  S. Tsuchitani,et al.  Nafion®-based polymer actuators with ionic liquids as solvent incorporated at room temperature , 2009 .

[27]  P. Naumov,et al.  Actuation based on thermo/photosalient effect: A biogenic smart hybrid driven by light and heat , 2014 .

[28]  Yanlei Yu,et al.  Three‐Dimensional Photomobility of Crosslinked Azobenzene Liquid‐Crystalline Polymer Fibers , 2010, Advanced materials.

[29]  C. Ohm,et al.  Liquid Crystalline Elastomers as Actuators and Sensors , 2010, Advanced materials.

[30]  A. Volkov,et al.  Mimosa pudica: Electrical and mechanical stimulation of plant movements. , 2010, Plant, cell & environment.

[31]  G. Gebel,et al.  Colloidal structure of ionomer solutions in polar solvents , 1996 .

[32]  Liangti Qu,et al.  Spontaneous, Straightforward Fabrication of Partially Reduced Graphene Oxide-Polypyrrole Composite Films for Versatile Actuators. , 2016, ACS nano.

[33]  Allan S Hoffman,et al.  Hydrogels for biomedical applications. , 2002, Advanced drug delivery reviews.

[34]  Hongzhi Wang,et al.  Origami-inspired active graphene-based paper for programmable instant self-folding walking devices , 2015, Science Advances.

[35]  Na Li,et al.  Strong, Twist‐Stable Carbon Nanotube Yarns and Muscles by Tension Annealing at Extreme Temperatures , 2016, Advanced materials.

[36]  P. Naumov,et al.  Directed Motility of Hygroresponsive Biomimetic Actuators , 2016 .

[37]  Yanlei Yu,et al.  NIR-light-induced deformation of cross-linked liquid-crystal polymers using upconversion nanophosphors. , 2011, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[38]  Carter S. Haines,et al.  Electrically, Chemically, and Photonically Powered Torsional and Tensile Actuation of Hybrid Carbon Nanotube Yarn Muscles , 2012, Science.

[39]  David Zarrouk,et al.  Photoactuators and motors based on carbon nanotubes with selective chirality distributions , 2014, Nature Communications.

[40]  Qiang Chen,et al.  Parallel cylindrical water nanochannels in Nafion fuel-cell membranes. , 2008, Nature materials.

[41]  T. Gierke,et al.  The Cluster—Network Model of Ion Clustering in Perfluorosulfonated Membranes , 1982 .

[42]  T. White,et al.  Programmable and adaptive mechanics with liquid crystal polymer networks and elastomers. , 2015, Nature materials.

[43]  Jeanine Weekes Schroer,et al.  The Finite String Newsletter Abstracts of Current Literature Glisp User's Manual , 2022 .

[44]  Elisabeth Smela,et al.  Bending Actuators with Maximum Curvature and Force and Zero Interfacial Stress , 2007 .

[45]  Howon Lee,et al.  Magnetochromatic microspheres: rotating photonic crystals. , 2009, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[46]  J. Aizenberg,et al.  Reversible Switching of Hydrogel-Actuated Nanostructures into Complex Micropatterns , 2007, Science.

[47]  Yan Xu Nanofluidics: A New Arena for Materials Science , 2018, Advanced materials.

[48]  Nan Chen,et al.  Moisture‐Activated Torsional Graphene‐Fiber Motor , 2014, Advanced materials.

[49]  F. C. Wilson,et al.  The morphology in nafion† perfluorinated membrane products, as determined by wide- and small-angle x-ray studies , 1981 .

[50]  Rodolfo H. Torres,et al.  Coherent light scattering by blue feather barbs , 1998, Nature.

[51]  Qingwei Li,et al.  Large-strain, multiform movements from designable electrothermal actuators based on large highly anisotropic carbon nanotube sheets. , 2015, ACS nano.

[52]  Xuemei Sun,et al.  A Mechanically Actuating Carbon-Nanotube Fiber in Response to Water and Moisture. , 2015, Angewandte Chemie.

[53]  M. Hentze,et al.  Ca2+ channel blockers reverse iron overload by a new mechanism via divalent metal transporter-1 , 2007, Nature Medicine.

[54]  J. Benziger,et al.  Wetting and absorption of water drops on Nafion films. , 2008, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[55]  Luzhuo Chen,et al.  Highly flexible and all-solid-state paperlike polymer supercapacitors. , 2010, Nano letters.

[56]  R. Langer,et al.  Light-induced shape-memory polymers , 2005, Nature.

[57]  Andrew G. Gillies,et al.  Optically-and Thermally-responsive Programmable Materials Based on Carbon Nanotube-hydrogel Polymer Composites , 2022 .

[58]  D. Wertz,et al.  Reinvestigation of the structures of ethanol and methanol at room temperature. , 1967 .