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Simple Synthesis of Elastomeric Photomechanical Switches That Self‐Heal
Author(s) -
Li Shuo,
Tu Yaqi,
Bai Hedan,
Hibi Yusuke,
Wiesner Lennard W.,
Pan Wenyang,
Wang Kaiyang,
Giannelis Emmanuel P.,
Shepherd Robert F.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201800815
Subject(s) - elastomer , simple (philosophy) , materials science , polymer science , nanotechnology , composite material , philosophy , epistemology
This article introduces a simple two‐stage method to synthesize and program a photomechanical elastomer (PME) for light‐driven artificial muscle‐like actuations in soft robotics. First, photochromic azobenzene molecules are covalently attached to a polyurethane backbone via a two‐part step‐growth polymerization. Next, mechanical alignment is applied to induce anisotropic deformations in the PME‐actuating films. Cross‐linked through dynamic hydrogen bonds, the PMEs also possess autonomic self‐healing properties without external energy input. This self‐healing allows for a single alignment step of the PME film and subsequent “cut and paste” assembly for multi‐axis actuation of a self‐folded soft‐robotic gripper from a single degree of freedom optical input.