Spring-shaped stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuator for magnifying compression and expansion motions

Koki Yoshida, Shunsuke Nakajima, Ryuji Kawano, Hiroaki Onoe

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This study describes stimuli-responsive hydrogel micro-actuators for compressive/expanding actuation of stimuli-responsive hydrogels. Inspired by living bioactuators such as a stalk in vorticella, we applied this spring-shaped structure to engineered stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators to magnify its degree of deformation. We achieved the shrinkage degree of ∼0.2, which is the approximately 2 time smaller than that of bulk hydrogel material (shrinkage degree ∼0.4), without any modification of molecules. Furthermore, both compression and expansion motions were demonstrated by changing the pattern of stimuli-responsive part in the microsprings, indicating that our approach could enable wide variety of motions by their patterning condition of microsprings. Our large compression/expansion stimuli-responsive hydrogel microsprings have immense potential to be applied in various microengineering products including soft actuators, chemical sensors, and medical applications.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2018 IEEE Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages579-580
Number of pages2
ISBN (Electronic)9781538647820
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Apr 24
Event31st IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2018 - Belfast, United Kingdom
Duration: 2018 Jan 212018 Jan 25

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS)
Volume2018-January
ISSN (Print)1084-6999

Other

Other31st IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBelfast
Period18/1/2118/1/25

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Spring-shaped stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuator for magnifying compression and expansion motions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this