Large-Scale Nanofiber Manufacturing| Al-Fiber Volatile Organics-PerceptiveActuators

Prof. Xiong Jiaqing from Donghua University ACS Nano: All-Fiber Actuator with Volatile Organic Compound Sensing Capability

Challenge: Soft robots with real-time volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing capabilities show great promise in dynamic hazard detection. However, coordinating VOC-responsive actuation with autonomous sensing remains challenging.

Approach: Prof. Xiong Jiaqing and Prof. Zhou Xinran from Donghua University employed blend electrospinning to synthesize a carbon chloride-based solvatochromic spiropyran as a solvatochromic material for polyvinylidene fluoride, constructing a solvatochromic piezoelectric layer. Continuous electrospinning of polyethylene oxide nanofiber inverse layers yielded an asymmetric deformation-responsive solvatochromic piezoelectric bilayer nanofiber actuator for VOCs.

Innovation 1: The VOC-chromic piezoelectric actuator exhibited large bending curvature (4.63 cm-1), ultrafast response speed (4.36 cm-1 s-1), 200 cycles of color change without fading, and high stability over 1500 actuation cycles, while autonomously generating piezoelectric signals to reflect its deformation or motion state.

Innovation 2: The study demonstrated VOC visualization, VOC type and direction detection, light/sound alarm systems, and a series of VOC-responsive smart switches, grippers, and microrobots, showcasing the feasibility and application potential of SCP-BF in dynamic VOC detection and manipulation.