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A Highly Stretchable Tough Polymer Actuator Driven by Acetone Vapors
Author(s) -
Yuan Yihui,
Yuan Jun,
Tan Huiyan,
Song Xiaodong,
Tu Yaqing,
Zhang Ting,
Han Huijing,
Huang Wei,
Huang Xinhua,
Zhang Lidong
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201800501
Subject(s) - materials science , actuator , soft robotics , polymer , composite material , acetone , electroactive polymers , mechanical energy , artificial muscle , toughness , composite number , nanotechnology , computer science , power (physics) , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
Stimuli‐responsive polymer materials having high stretchability and robust toughness are more promising for applications in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and sensors. Herein, a micropatterned single‐layered polymer soft actuator is reported that can be stretched to 600% of its original length with the strength reaching 40 MPa. The prominent mechanical stretchability comes from the modification of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) by using 3‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MS), followed by the treatment with mechanical uniaxial stretching. The uniaxial stretching induces microscopic patterning of the PVDF/MS composite actuator, making it capable of kinematics‐controllable movements in response to acetone vapors. The mechanically strong single‐layered vaporesponsive PVDF/MS actuator overcomes many drawbacks of polymer bilayer actuators that might undergo interfacial failure and inactivation caused by less‐than‐perfect mechanical properties. Driven by acetone vapors, the PVDF/MS actuator demonstrates highly efficient energy conversion and sensing abilities with simulating artificial muscles for inducing the movements of various paper dolls.