Ultra-High Actuation Stress Polymer Actuators as Light-Driven Artificial Muscles

Muhammad Rehan Asghar Bhatti; Emiliano Bilotti; Han Zhang; Shaji Varghese; Rob C.P. Verpaalen; Albert P.H.J. Schenning; Cees W.M. Bastiaansen; Ton Peijs

doi:10.1021/acsami.0c07684

Ultra-High Actuation Stress Polymer Actuators as Light-Driven Artificial Muscles

Muhammad Rehan Asghar Bhatti (Corresponding author)
, Emiliano Bilotti
, Han Zhang
, Shaji Varghese
, Rob C.P. Verpaalen
, Albert P.H.J. Schenning
, Cees W.M. Bastiaansen
, Ton Peijs

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

630 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Remotely addressable actuators are of great interest in fields like microrobotics and smart textiles because of their simplicity, integrity, flexibility, and lightweight. However, most of the existing actuator systems are composed of complex assemblies and/or offer a low response rate. Here, the actuation performance of a light-driven, highly oriented film based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), containing a photo-responsive additive, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol (BZT), is reported. The material exhibits a fast (<1 s) and reversible photo-induced thermal response upon exposure to UV light, which results in an exceptionally high actuation stress (∼70 MPa) at a low strain (<0.1%). The proposed actuation mechanism originates from light absorption by BZT and energy transfer into heat, in combination with the intrinsic high stiffness (∼80 GPa) and a negative thermal expansion (NTE) of the oriented polymer films. This unique set of properties of this actuator, in particular the very high specific actuation stress, compared to existing organic and inorganic actuators, and the remote optical actuation, promises impact in fields related to soft robotics, composites, medical devices, optics, prosthetics, and smart textiles.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	33210-33218
Number of pages	9
Journal	ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Volume	12
Issue number	29
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c07684
Publication status	Published - 22 Jul 2020

Funding

This work is jointly funded by the Queen Mary University of London and Higher Education Commission of Pakistan as a Research Studentship to M.R.A.B. We would like to acknowledge the help and efforts of Dr. Giovanni Santagiuliana, Dr. Yi Liu, and Yunyin Lin at Nanoforce Technology and QMUL for their assistance with polymer processing and data analysis. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Erica Di Federico at QMUL for her technical assistance with mechanical and thermal analysis.

Funders
Queen Mary University of London

Keywords

actuators
artificial muscles
negative thermal expansion
oriented polymers
photo-response
specific actuation stress

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10.1021/acsami.0c07684

acsami.0c07684Final published version, 3 MBLicence: TAVERNE

Cite this

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title = "Ultra-High Actuation Stress Polymer Actuators as Light-Driven Artificial Muscles",

abstract = "Remotely addressable actuators are of great interest in fields like microrobotics and smart textiles because of their simplicity, integrity, flexibility, and lightweight. However, most of the existing actuator systems are composed of complex assemblies and/or offer a low response rate. Here, the actuation performance of a light-driven, highly oriented film based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), containing a photo-responsive additive, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol (BZT), is reported. The material exhibits a fast (<1 s) and reversible photo-induced thermal response upon exposure to UV light, which results in an exceptionally high actuation stress (∼70 MPa) at a low strain (<0.1\%). The proposed actuation mechanism originates from light absorption by BZT and energy transfer into heat, in combination with the intrinsic high stiffness (∼80 GPa) and a negative thermal expansion (NTE) of the oriented polymer films. This unique set of properties of this actuator, in particular the very high specific actuation stress, compared to existing organic and inorganic actuators, and the remote optical actuation, promises impact in fields related to soft robotics, composites, medical devices, optics, prosthetics, and smart textiles.",

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AU - Verpaalen, Rob C.P.

AU - Schenning, Albert P.H.J.

AU - Bastiaansen, Cees W.M.

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AB - Remotely addressable actuators are of great interest in fields like microrobotics and smart textiles because of their simplicity, integrity, flexibility, and lightweight. However, most of the existing actuator systems are composed of complex assemblies and/or offer a low response rate. Here, the actuation performance of a light-driven, highly oriented film based on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), containing a photo-responsive additive, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-ditertpentylphenol (BZT), is reported. The material exhibits a fast (<1 s) and reversible photo-induced thermal response upon exposure to UV light, which results in an exceptionally high actuation stress (∼70 MPa) at a low strain (<0.1%). The proposed actuation mechanism originates from light absorption by BZT and energy transfer into heat, in combination with the intrinsic high stiffness (∼80 GPa) and a negative thermal expansion (NTE) of the oriented polymer films. This unique set of properties of this actuator, in particular the very high specific actuation stress, compared to existing organic and inorganic actuators, and the remote optical actuation, promises impact in fields related to soft robotics, composites, medical devices, optics, prosthetics, and smart textiles.

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Ultra-High Actuation Stress Polymer Actuators as Light-Driven Artificial Muscles

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