Bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials: changing colours and/or shapes
A recent study summarises the-state-of-the-art progress of bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials, with focuses on the design principles and the technologies for forming these materials.
Biological systems contain various amazing examples that can display adaptive and active behaviors in response to external stimuli. The changes in skin colour and/or shapes according to environmental changes are common examples of the adaptive and active behaviors of creatures for better survival.
To mimic these outstanding sensing and actuating behaviors of creatures, a new generation of bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials have been recently attracting extensive attention.
Great promise in a variety of fields
Based on stimuli-responsive materials, these bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials can also exhibit the capabilities of changing their colours and/or shapes upon exposure to specific external stimuli, which hold great promise in a variety of fields such as sensors, actuators, flexible electronics, soft robotics and various biomedical applications.
A new review summarises the-state-of-the-art progress of bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials, with focuses on the design principles and the technologies for forming these materials, as well as the introduction of their potential for versatile applications. Finally, an outlook on the challenges and future directions of bio-inspired sensing and actuating materials is presented.
The study has been published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C, Issue 22, 2019.
Image source: Pixabay.
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