Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Electronic devices capable of perceiving and responding to environmental changes are essential for applications in human-machine interaction, monitoring systems, and robotics. However, most existing devices struggle with the separation of sensing and actuation, resulting in complex integration and limited responsiveness. Here, inspired by the interplay between sensory and muscle cells in sea anemones, we present an intelligent thermoelectric device that seamlessly combines multimodal sensing with autonomous thermal actuation, achieving a closed-loop sensory-motor reflex. The device exhibits excellent temperature sensitivity (0.2 °C) and pressure resolution (0.03 mm), attributable to its three-dimensional architecture and hierarchical conductive network. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that a dynamic hydrogen-bonding network enhances stress dissipation and interfacial adhesion, ensuring exceptional mechanical stability over 140,000 cycles. Notably, it also features thermal self-adaptation, actively triggering a protection mechanism to avoid high-temperature stimuli via thermoresponsive deformation, with an adjustable actuation threshold. This work advances intelligent electronics with real-time decision-making and environmental interaction.
Source: Nano Research
Authors: Feng-Qi Xu, Rongzhuang Song, Cheng Chen, Bo Li, Jie-Long Xu, Xin-Lin Li, Heng-An Wu, Yin-Bo Zhu, Jian-Wei Liu
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,290
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Youth Innovation Promotion Association
OpenAlex ID: W7105805681