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Incorporating nanoparticles into a porous hydrogel to propel an aquabot with minimal voltage


Kết hợp các hạt nano vào một hydrogel xốp để đẩy một aquabot với điện áp tối thiểu

Insect scale-free soft aquabots using a WNE-coated hydrogel actuator. (A) Schematic illustration of the formation of WNEs prepared from capillary-assisted in situ NP assembly and disassembly procedures using optical microscopy and SEM images. (B) Illustration and schematic photograph of representative cordless soft aquabots integrated with WNE-hydrogel actuator, circuit board and battery. Credit: Robotics Science (In 2022). DOI: 10.1126 / scirobotics.abo6463

A team of researchers from Korea University, Ajou University and Hanyang University, all in South Korea, created a small aquabot propelled by fins made of porous hydrogels imbued with nanoparticles. In their paper published in the journal Robotics ScienceThe team describes how the hydrogel works to power a small boat and reveals what voltage is needed.

Scientists and engineers have been working for several years to build small, soft robots for use in medical app and found that hydrogels were quite suitable for this task. Unfortunately, such materials also have undesirable characteristics, most notably poor electrical connectivity. In this new effort, the researchers took a new approach to making hydrogels easier to use with electricity as a energy sources—Padded with conductive nanoparticles.

The work involved adding a small number of nanoparticles to a portion of a porous hydrogel, which they then used as a wrinkle nanomembrane electrode (WNE). transmission device. The addition of nanoparticles allows the hydrogel to reliably conduct electricity. Tests show that the actuator can be powered with only 3 volts. The researchers then shaped the two actuators into a fin shape and attached them to a small plastic body. Electrons are added to the body controlling electricity being sent to the fins. The result is a robot that takes the form of a water bug, floating on water in a tank.






The operation of the soft aquabot is not tethered. Image supplier: Ko et al., Sci. Robot. 7, eabo6463 (2022)

The actuator operates through the flow of current to the internal electrodes fin clamped in a hydrogel. This results in the generation of electrically moving water inside a small portion of the hydrogel, which in turn controls the amount of swelling. As the hydrogel inflates, it changes the shape of its fins, resulting in a thrust that moves the small aquabot across the water. The researchers note that the actuators have power density larger than 7 x 105 joules per cubic meter.


Combine turgor design and electrospinning to create a powerful and fast hydrogel actuator


More information:
Jongkuk Ko et al., High-performance electrified hydrogel actuator based on wrinkled nanomembrane electrodes for non-trapped insect-scale soft aquabots, Robotics Science (In 2022). DOI: 10.1126 / scirobotics.abo6463

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Quote: Incorporating nanoparticles into a porous hydrogel to propel the aquabot with minimal voltage (2022, October 31) retrieved October 31, 2022 from https://techxplore.com/news/2022-10- incorporated-nanoparticles-porous-hydrogel-propel.html

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