A bio-inspired co-simulation crawling robot enabled by a carbon dot-doped dielectric elastomer.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38564251.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1039/d4sm00029c.
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Abstract
Flexible actuation materials play a crucial role in biomimetic robots. Seeking methods to enhance actuation and functionality is one of the directions in which actuators strive to meet the high-performance and diverse requirements of environmental conditions. Herein, by utilizing the method of adsorbing N-doped carbon dots (NCDs) onto SiO<sub>2</sub> to form clusters of functional particles, a NCDs@SiO<sub>2</sub>/PDMS elastomer was prepared and its combined optical and electrical co-stimulation properties were effectively harnessed to develop a biomimetic crawling robot resembling <i>Rhagophthalmus</i> (firefly). The introduction of NCDs@SiO<sub>2</sub> cluster particles not only effectively improves the mechanical and dielectric properties of the elastomer but also exhibits fluorescence response and actuation response under the co-stimulation of UV and electricity, respectively. Additionally, a hybrid dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) with a transparent SWCNT mesh electrode exhibits two notable advancements: an 826% increase in out-of-plane displacement under low electric field stimulation compared to the pure matrix and the ability of NCDs to maintain a stable excited state within the polymer for an extended duration under UV-excitation. Simultaneously, the transparent biomimetic crawling robot can stealthily move in specific environments and fluoresce under UV light.