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Ultra-high actuation stress polymer actuators as light-driven artificial muscles

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

Authors

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



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.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 25, 2020
Online Publication Date Jun 25, 2020
Publication Date Jul 22, 2020
Deposit Date Sep 7, 2023
Journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Print ISSN 1944-8244
Electronic ISSN 1944-8252
Publisher American Chemical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Issue 29
Pages 33210-33218
DOI https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c07684
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11076800