Sina Naficy

Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread

Toward an Artificial Muscle In designing materials for artificial muscles, the goals are to find those that will combine high strokes, high efficiency, long cycle life, low hysteresis, and low cost. Now, Haines et al. (p. 868; see the Perspective by Yuan and Poulin) show that this is possible. Twisting high-strength, readily available polymer fibers, such as those used for fishing lines or sewing thread, to the point where they coil up, allowed construction of highly efficient actuators that could be triggered by a number of stimuli. Polymer fibers can be transformed into highly efficient artificial muscles through the application of extreme twist. [Also see Perspective by Yuan and Poulin] The high cost of powerful, large-stroke, high-stress artificial muscles has combined with performance limitations such as low cycle life, hysteresis, and low efficiency to restrict applications. We demonstrated that inexpensive high-strength polymer fibers used for fishing line and sewing thread can be easily transformed by twist insertion to provide fast, scalable, nonhysteretic, long-life tensile and torsional muscles. Extreme twisting produces coiled muscles that can contract by 49%, lift loads over 100 times heavier than can human muscle of the same length and weight, and generate 5.3 kilowatts of mechanical work per kilogram of muscle weight, similar to that produced by a jet engine. Woven textiles that change porosity in response to temperature and actuating window shutters that could help conserve energy were also demonstrated. Large-stroke tensile actuation was theoretically and experimentally shown to result from torsional actuation.

Progress toward robust polymer hydrogels

In this review we highlight new developments in tough hydrogel materials in terms of their enhanced mechanical performance and their corresponding toughening mechanisms. These mechanically robust hydrogels have been developed over the past 10 years with many now showing mechanical properties comparable with those of natural tissues. By first reviewing the brittleness of conventional synthetic hydrogels, we introduce each new class of tough hydrogel: homogeneous gels, slip-link gels, double-network gels, nanocomposite gels and gels formed using poly-functional crosslinkers. In each case we provide a description of the fracture process that may be occurring. With the exception of double network gels where the enhanced toughness is quite well understood, these descriptions remain to be confirmed. We also introduce material property charts for conventional and tough synthetic hydrogels to illustrate the wide range of mechanical and swelling properties exhibited by these materials and to highlight links between these properties and the network topology. Finally, we provide some suggestions for further work particularly with regard to some unanswered questions and possible avenues for further enhancement of gel toughness.

Graphene oxide dispersions: tuning rheology to enable fabrication

Here, we show that graphene oxide (GO) dispersions exhibit unique viscoelastic properties, making them a new class of soft materials. The fundamental insights accrued here provide the basis for the development of fabrication protocols for these two-dimensional soft materials, in a diverse array of processing techniques.

Thin, tough, pH-sensitive hydrogel films with rapid load recovery.

Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are used as the building blocks of actuators and sensors. Their application has been limited, however, by their lack of mechanical strength and recovery from loading. Here, we report the preparation of pH-sensitive hydrogels as thin as 20 μm. The hydrogels are made of a polyether-based polyurethane and poly(acrylic acid). A simple method was employed to create hydrogels with thicknesses in the range of 20-570 μm. The hydrogel films volume changed by a factor of ∼2 when the pH was switched around the transition point (pH 4). Tensile extensibilities of up to ∼350% were maintained at each pH, and the average Youngs modulus and tensile strength were in the range of 580-910 and 715-1320 kPa, respectively, depending on the pH. Repeated tensile loading and unloading to 100% extension showed little permanent damage, unlike analogous double-network hydrogels, and with immediate recovery (up to 75-85% of the first loading cycle), unlike hybrid ionic-covalent interpenetrating network hydrogels.

Edge‐Hydroxylated Boron Nitride Nanosheets as an Effective Additive to Improve the Thermal Response of Hydrogels

Upon flowing hot steam over hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) bulk powder, efficient exfoliation and hydroxylation of BN occur simultaneously. Through effective hydrogen bonding with water and N-isopropylacrylamide, edge-hydroxylated BN nanosheets dramatically improve the dimensional change and dye release of this temperature-sensitive hydrogel and thereby enhance its efficacy in bionic, soft robotic, and drug-delivery applications.

Efficient, Absorption-Powered Artificial Muscles Based on Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Yarns.

A new type of absorption-powered artificial muscle provides high performance without needing a temperature change. These muscles, comprising coiled carbon nanotube fibers infiltrated with silicone rubber, can contract up to 50% to generate up to 1.2 kJ kg(-1) . The drive mechanism for actuation is the rubber swelling during exposure to a nonpolar solvent. Theoretical energy efficiency conversion can be as high as 16%.

Evaluation of encapsulating coatings on the performance of polypyrrole actuators

Conjugated polymer actuators are electroactive materials capable of generating force and movement in response to an applied external voltage. Many potential biomedical and industrial applications require these actuators to operate in a liquid environment. However, immersion of uncoated conducting polymer actuators in non-electrolyte liquids greatly reduces their operating lifetime. Here, we demonstrate the use of spray coating as an effective and simple method to encapsulate polypyrrole (PPy) tri-layer bending actuators. Poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) was used as an encapsulating, compliant spray coating on PPy actuators. A significant enhancement in actuator lifetime in both air and water was observed by encapsulating the actuators. The change in stiffness and reduction in bending amplitude for coatings of different thickness was studied. A simple beam mechanics model describes the experimental results and highlights the importance of coating compliance for actuator coatings. The model may be used to evaluate other possible encapsulating materials.

A Cytocompatible Robust Hybrid Conducting Polymer Hydrogel for Use in a Magnesium Battery.

A cytocompatible robust hybrid conducting-polymer hydrogel, polypyrrole/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) is developed. This hydrogel is suitable for electrode-cellular applications. It demonstrates a high battery performance when coupled with a bioresorbable Mg alloy in phosphate-buffered saline. A combination of suitable mechanical and electrochemical properties makes this hydrogel a promising material for bionic applications.

Thermally activated paraffin-filled McKibben muscles

McKibben artificial muscles are one of the most pragmatic contractile actuators, offering performances similar to skeletal muscles. The McKibben muscles operate by pumping pressurized fluid into a bladder constrained by a stiff braid so that tensile force generated is amplified in comparison to a conventional hydraulic ram. The need for heavy and bulky compressors/pumps makes pneumatic or hydraulic McKibben muscles unsuitable for microactuators, where a highly compact design is required. In an alternative approach, this article describes a new type of McKibben muscle using an expandable guest fill material, such as temperature-sensitive paraffin, to achieve a more compact and lightweight actuation system. Two different types of paraffin-filled McKibben muscles are introduced and compared. In the first system, the paraffin-filled McKibben muscle is simply immersed in a hot water bath and generates isometric forces up to 850 mN and a free contraction strain of 8.3% at 95°C. In the second system, paraffin is heated directly by embedded heating elements and exhibits the maximum isometric force of 2 N and 9% contraction strain. A quantitative model is also developed to predict the actuation performance of these temperature sensitive McKibben muscles as a function of temperature.

Conductive Tough Hydrogel for Bioapplications

Biocompatible conductive tough hydrogels represent a new class of advanced materials combining the properties of tough hydrogels and biocompatible conductors. Here, a simple method, to achieve a self-assembled tough elastomeric composite structure that is biocompatible, conductive, and with high flexibility, is reported. The hydrogel comprises polyether-based liner polyurethane (PU), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), and liquid crystal graphene oxide (LCGO). The polyurethane hybrid composite (PUHC) containing the PEDOT:PSS, LCGO, and PU has a higher electrical conductivity (10×), tensile modulus (>1.6×), and yield strength (>1.56×) compared to respective control samples. Furthermore, the PUHC is biocompatible and can support human neural stem cell (NSC) growth and differentiation to neurons and supporting neuroglia. Moreover, the stimulation of PUHC enhances NSC differentiation with enhanced neuritogenesis compared to unstimulated cultures. A model describing the synergistic effects of the PUHC components and their influence on the uniformity, biocompatibility, and electromechanical properties of the hydrogel is presented.