Tunable Actuation in Soft Robotics via Liquid–Gas Phase Transitions Induced by Light of Varying Wavelengths
19th International Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Conference (NanoTR-19), Ankara, Türkiye, 27 - 29 Ağustos 2025, ss.311, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Ankara
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.311
- Gazi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Soft robotics based on liquid–gas phase transitions offer a powerful framework for creating lightweight, flexible, and untethered systems capable of
converting external stimuli into controlled mechanical motion. These systems leverage the volumetric expansion associated with the liquid–gas phase
change to produce actuation, making them particularly attractive for applications in wearable devices, biomedical tools, and autonomous systems. Among
various stimuli, light has emerged as a highly effective trigger due to its non-contact nature, high spatial resolution, and tunable energy input. Despite
growing interest, most existing studies focus on single-parameter evaluations, often examining only one light source or solvent system. As a result, the
complex interplay between light wavelength and solvent characteristics in driving liquid–gas transitions remains poorly understood. Gaining a
comprehensive understanding of these factors is critical for improving actuation performance, energy efficiency, and system durability in real-world
applications. This study aims to address these gaps through a systematic investigation of multi-wavelength light sources and a range of organic solvents to
optimize the behavior of photothermal actuators based on liquid–gas phase transitions.
Herein, we report on the design of light-driven polymeric actuators and investigate the effects of different light sources (IR, blue, red, and green
LEDs) with varying wavelengths and solvents (ethanol, methanol, butanol, etc.) on phase-transition-based mechanical motion. While existing literature
often focuses on studies using a single light source or solvent, this research offers a unique contribution in terms of multi-parameter analysis. The findings
obtained may provide new insights into how mechanical motion can be optimized depending on the wavelength of light and the type of solvent, thereby
guiding the design process of light-driven soft actuators. In addition, the combined evaluation of different parameters will provide important clues for
improving the energy efficiency of photothermal actuators and developing their application areas.