Toward a new generation of electrically controllable hygromorphic soft actuators.

Journal: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
PMID:

Abstract

An innovative processing strategy for fabricating soft structures that possess electric- and humidity-driven active/passive actuation capabilities along with touch- and humidity-sensing properties is reported. The intrinsically multifunctional material comprises an active thin layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-(styrene sulfonate) in a double-layered structure with a silicone elastomer and provides an opportunity toward developing a new class of smart structures for soft robotics.

Authors

  • Silvia Taccola
    Center for Micro-BioRobotics @SSSA, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, Pontedera, 56025, Italy.
  • Francesco Greco
    Romolo Hospital, Department of Urology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Rocca di Neto, Italy; Department of Urology, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: francesco_greco@ymail.com.
  • Edoardo Sinibaldi
  • Alessio Mondini
  • Barbara Mazzolai
  • Virgilio Mattoli