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Hydraulic-driven adaptable morphing active-cooling elastomer with bioinspired bicontinuous phases

Author

Listed:
  • Dehai Yu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Zhonghao Wang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Guidong Chi

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Qiubo Zhang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Junxian Fu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Maolin Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Chuanke Liu

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Quan Zhou

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Zhen Li

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Du Chen

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Zhenghe Song

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Zhizhu He

    (China Agricultural University)

Abstract

The active-cooling elastomer concept, originating from vascular thermoregulation for soft biological tissue, is expected to develop an effective heat dissipation method for human skin, flexible electronics, and soft robots due to the desired interface mechanical compliance. However, its low thermal conduction and poor adaptation limit its cooling effects. Inspired by the bone structure, this work reports a simple yet versatile method of fabricating arbitrary-geometry liquid metal skeleton-based elastomer with bicontinuous Gyroid-shaped phases, exhibiting high thermal conductivity (up to 27.1 W/mK) and stretchability (strain limit >600%). Enlightened by the vasodilation principle for blood flow regulation, we also establish a hydraulic-driven conformal morphing strategy for better thermoregulation by modulating the hydraulic pressure of channels to adapt the complicated shape with large surface roughness (even a concave body). The liquid metal active-cooling elastomer, integrated with the flexible thermoelectric device, is demonstrated with various applications in the soft gripper, thermal-energy harvesting, and head thermoregulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Dehai Yu & Zhonghao Wang & Guidong Chi & Qiubo Zhang & Junxian Fu & Maolin Li & Chuanke Liu & Quan Zhou & Zhen Li & Du Chen & Zhenghe Song & Zhizhu He, 2024. "Hydraulic-driven adaptable morphing active-cooling elastomer with bioinspired bicontinuous phases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-45562-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45562-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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