Thermoresponsive Hydrogels with Improved Actuation Function by Interconnected Microchannels

Stimuli?responsive hydrogels are important in soft actuators research, as they change volume response to environmental factors. Thermoresponsive hydrogels, such poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM), typically have slow rates and exert comparably weak forces, which usually limit their use artificial muscles. Herein, it is shown that the incorporation of interconnected microchannels into pNIPAM hydrogel by a template-assisted approach leads significant increase both rate change. For microchannel density only 5 vol%, reduction 90% achieved, compared with 12% for bulk material, while material stiffness swollen remains unchanged. By tailoring channel further possible adjust exerted stroke force an actuation setting. It demonstrator gripper setup driven pNIPAM-based muscle performance strongly improved microengineered conventional pNIPAM. The strategy incorporating provides practical future phase transition-based responsive materials robotic applications.