A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions
Abstract
Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.
BibTeX
@article{Ford-2019-122632,author = {Michael J. Ford and Cedric P. Ambulo and Teresa A. Kent and Eric J. Markvicka and Chengfeng Pan and Jonathan Malen and Taylor H. Ware and Carmel Majidi},
title = {A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences},
year = {2019},
month = {October},
volume = {116},
number = {43},
pages = {21438 - 21444},
}