Scientific Achievement
Researchers in the Structured Liquids Program developed ultra-soft and elastic all-aqueous robots that exhibit shrink-on-demand adaptability and electrically conductive functions.
Significance and Impact
Ultra-soft, elastic and conductive aquabots can adapt their size by photothermal shrinking to pass through much narrower spaces that hold significant potential for targeted delivery, microsurgery and flexible electronics.
Research Details
- Combine photopolymerization of responsive hydrogels all-aqueous 3D printing
- Functionalize the responsive membrane by the assembly of photothermal and conductive materials
Publication Details
S. Zhu, H. Cui, Y. Pan, D. Popple, G. Xi, Z. Fink, J. Han, A. Zettl, H. Cheung Shum, T. P. Russell, Advanced Science (2024).
