Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Double‐network (DN) gels have been demonstrated to possess enhanced toughness and fatigue resistance when compared to their single‐network counterparts. Nevertheless, these gels lack the specific directional orientation inherent in the anisotropic ordered structures characteristic of natural materials, thereby restricting their applicability within the domain of biomimetics. Herein, inspired by muscle stretching, we propose a facile strategy to prepare a single‐network anisotropic eutectic gel through an innovative approach that integrates solution replacement with circuit mechanical training. This strategy mimics the mechanism of muscle strengthening to form comprehensively reinforced gel muscles and skins for soft robots. The resultant gels exhibit unexceptionable mechanical and electrical properties compared to conventional single‐network gels, surpassing even the performance metrics of DN gels. Attributable to the anisotropic nanofibrous structures, which incorporate crystalline polymer frameworks and a high density of hydrogen bonds, these gels exhibit comprehensive mechanical properties of high strength (> 8.5 MPa), high toughness (∼20 MJ/m 3 ), and high fatigue resistance (> 1100 J/m 2 ), and also resistance to drying and freezing. Additionally, upon eutectic liquid infusion, these gels achieve a high electrical conductivity (∼350 mS/m) and display sensitivity to temperature, strain, and pressure variations. Such properties position the toughened gel as a highly promising candidate for actuators and sensors in soft robotics, enabling high‐output actuation and multi‐modal sensing integration.
Source: SmartBot
DOI: 10.1002/smb2.70016
Authors: Ming Li, Hao Ma, Jing Xiong, Jian Chen, Jing Wang, Zeyang Xia
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Awards: G2863461338, G8533523657, G8667898892
OpenAlex ID: W4416820645