Light-steered locomotion of muscle-like hydrogel by self-coordinated shape change and friction modulation.

ABSTRACT: Many creatures have the ability to traverse challenging environments by using their active muscles with anisotropic structures as the motors in a highly coordinated fashion. However, most artificial robots require multiple independently activated actuators to achieve similar purposes. Here we report a hydrogel-based, biomimetic soft robot capable of multimodal locomotion fueled and steered by light irradiation. A muscle-like poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocomposite hydrogel is prepared by electrical orientation of nanosheets and subsequent gelation. Patterned anisotropic hydrogels are fabricated by multi-step electrical orientation and photolithographic polymerization, affording programmed deformations. Under light irradiation, the gold-nanoparticle-incorporated hydrogels undergo concurre

SUBMITTER: Zhu QL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7560679 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature