RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fast and programmable locomotion of hydrogel-metal hybrids under light and magnetic fields
JF Science Robotics
JO Sci. Robotics
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP eabb9822
DO 10.1126/scirobotics.abb9822
VO 5
IS 49
A1 Li, Chuang
A1 Lau, Garrett C.
A1 Yuan, Hang
A1 Aggarwal, Aaveg
A1 Dominguez, Victor Lopez
A1 Liu, Shuangping
A1 Sai, Hiroaki
A1 Palmer, Liam C.
A1 Sather, Nicholas A.
A1 Pearson, Tyler J.
A1 Freedman, Danna E.
A1 Amiri, Pedram Khalili
A1 de la Cruz, Monica Olvera
A1 Stupp, Samuel I.
YR 2020
UL http://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/5/49/eabb9822.abstract
AB The design of soft matter in which internal fuels or an external energy input can generate locomotion and shape transformations observed in living organisms is a key challenge. Such materials could assist in productive functions that may range from robotics to smart management of chemical reactions and communication with cells. In this context, hydrated matter that can function in aqueous media would be of great interest. Here, we report the design of hydrogels containing a scaffold of high–aspect ratio ferromagnetic nanowires with nematic order dispersed in a polymer network that change shape in response to light and experience torques in rotating magnetic fields. The synergistic response enables fast walking motion of macroscopic objects in water on either flat or inclined surfaces and also guides delivery of cargo through rolling motion and light-driven shape changes. The theoretical description of the response to the external energy input allowed us to program specific trajectories of hydrogel objects that were verified experimentally.