Open AccessSkeletal Muscle Fibers Inspired Polymeric Actuator by Assembly of Triblock Polymers
Author(s) -
Wang Weijie,
Xu Xian,
Zhang Caihong,
Huang Hao,
Zhu Liping,
Yue Kan,
Zhu Meifang,
Yang Shuguang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202105764
Subject(s) - artificial muscle , lamellar structure , polystyrene , materials science , copolymer , actuator , polymer , skeletal muscle , ethylene oxide , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , composite material , computer science , anatomy , medicine , artificial intelligence , engineering
Inspired by the striated structure of skeletal muscle fibers, a polymeric actuator by assembling two symmetric triblock copolymers, namely, polystyrene‐ b ‐poly(acrylic acid)‐ b ‐polystyrene (SAS) and polystyrene‐ b ‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐ b ‐polystyrene (SES) is developed. Owing to the microphase separation of the triblock copolymers and hydrogen‐bonding complexation of their middle segments, the SAS/SES assembly forms a lamellar structure with alternating vitrified S and hydrogen‐bonded A/E association layers. The SAS/SES strip can be actuated and operate in response to environmental pH. The contraction ratio and working density of the SAS/SES actuator are approximately 50% and 90 kJ m −3 , respectively; these values are higher than those of skeletal muscle fibers. In addition, the SAS/SES actuator shows a “catch‐state”, that is, it can maintain force without energy consumption, which is a feature of mollusc muscle but not skeletal muscle. This study provides a biomimetic approach for the development of artificial polymeric actuators with outstanding performance.