In-built thermo-mechanical cooperative feedback mechanism for self-propelled multimodal locomotion and electricity generation

Xiao-Qiao Wang, Chuan Fu Tan, Kwok Hoe Chan, Xin Lu, Liangliang Zhu, Sang-Woo Kim () and Ghim Wei Ho ()
Additional contact information
Xiao-Qiao Wang: National University of Singapore
Chuan Fu Tan: National University of Singapore
Kwok Hoe Chan: National University of Singapore
Xin Lu: National University of Singapore
Liangliang Zhu: National University of Singapore
Sang-Woo Kim: School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU)
Ghim Wei Ho: National University of Singapore

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Utilization of ubiquitous low-grade waste heat constitutes a possible avenue towards soft matter actuation and energy recovery opportunities. While most soft materials are not all that smart relying on power input of some kind for continuous response, we conceptualize a self-locked thermo-mechano feedback for autonomous motility and energy generation functions. Here, the low-grade heat usually dismissed as ‘not useful’ is used to fuel a soft thermo-mechano-electrical system to perform perpetual and untethered multimodal locomotions. The innately resilient locomotion synchronizes self-governed and auto-sustained temperature fluctuations and mechanical mobility without external stimulus change, enabling simultaneous harvesting of thermo-mechanical energy at the pyro/piezoelectric mechanistic intersection. The untethered soft material showcases deterministic motions (translational oscillation, directional rolling, and clockwise/anticlockwise rotation), rapid transitions and dynamic responses without needing power input, on the contrary extracting power from ambient. This work may open opportunities for thermo-mechano-electrical transduction, multigait soft energy robotics and waste heat harvesting technologies.

Date: 2018
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06011-9 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-06011-9

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06011-9

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().