Physicists at Virginia Tech, including doctoral candidate Chinmay Katke and assistant professor C. Nadir Kaplan, have discovered a microscopic phenomenon that could enhance the performance of soft devices like flexible robots and microscopic drug delivery capsules. Their research, published in Physical Review Letters, proposes a new physical mechanism that could accelerate the expansion and contraction of hydrogels, potentially replacing rubber-based materials in flexible robots. This could allow these robots to move with speed and dexterity similar to human hands. The research could have applications in manufacturing, healthcare, search and rescue operations, skincare, and contact lenses.
Virginia Tech Physicists Discover Microscopic Phenomenon to Enhance Soft Devices
In a recent paper published in the journal Physical Review Letters, physicists from Virginia Tech have unveiled a microscopic phenomenon that could significantly enhance the performance of soft devices. These devices include flexible robots and microscopic capsules used for drug delivery. The research was conducted by doctoral candidate Chinmay Katke, assistant professor C. Nadir Kaplan, and co-author Peter A. Korevaar from Radboud University in the Netherlands.
The team proposed a new physical mechanism that could accelerate the expansion and contraction of hydrogels, a type of polymer gel that contains over 90% water. This discovery could potentially allow hydrogels to replace rubber-based materials currently used in the construction of flexible robots, potentially enabling these robots to move with a speed and dexterity similar to human hands.
Hydrogels: A Potential Game-Changer for Soft Robots
Soft robots are already utilized in manufacturing, where devices resembling hands are programmed to pick up items from a conveyor belt and place them in a container for packaging. However, current models rely on hydraulics or pneumatics to alter the shape of the “hand” to pick up the item.
Hydrogels, which are prevalent in our daily lives in products such as food jelly and shaving gel, could offer a more efficient solution. The research conducted by Katke, Korevaar, and Kaplan suggests a method that allows hydrogels to swell and contract much more quickly, enhancing their flexibility and functionality in various settings.
The Science Behind the Discovery: Diffusio-Phoretic Swelling of Hydrogels
The team’s research revolves around the concept of osmosis, a process used by living organisms for activities such as water absorption in the intestine or seed dispersal in plants. Traditionally, osmosis is understood as the flow of water through a semi-permeable membrane, with larger molecules like polymers unable to pass through.
However, the researchers observed that a thin layer of hydrogel film composed of polyacrylic acid could rapidly swell due to osmosis when ions are released inside the hydrogel, despite the fact that the hydrogel film allows both water and ions to pass through. They developed a new theory to explain this observation, termed “diffusio-phoretic swelling of the hydrogels,” which allows hydrogels to swell much faster than previously possible.
Implications of the Discovery: Faster, More Versatile Soft Robots
The discovery of diffusio-phoretic swelling of hydrogels could have significant implications for the development of soft robots. Current models, made with rubber, are limited in their movements and require hydraulic or pneumatic systems to change shape. The use of hydrogels could potentially eliminate these limitations, allowing for a wider range of movements and faster response times.
Potential Applications: From Healthcare to Manufacturing
The research conducted by the Virginia Tech team could have far-reaching applications. For instance, larger soft robots that can respond quickly could improve assistive devices in healthcare, enhance “pick-and-place” functions in manufacturing, and aid in search and rescue operations. Other potential applications include cosmetics used for skincare and contact lenses. The team’s research suggests that using the new diffusio-phoresis method, soft robots as large as a centimeter may be able to transform in just a few seconds, a claim that is subject to further studies.
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