A light-powered self-rotating liquid crystal elastomer drill

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27748
• Publication Date: 2024-03-15T08:53:22Z
• Authors: Yong Yu; Haoyu Hu; Haiyang Wu; Yuntong Dai; Kai Li
• Keywords: H1-99; 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Science (General); Liquid crystal elastomer; Social sciences (General); Q1-390; Drill; Light-powered; Self-rotation; Fiber; Research Article

Self-oscillating systems can directly convert ambient energy to mechanical work, and new type self-oscillating are worth designing for applications in harvesters, engines, actuators. Taking inspiration from the hand drill, we have developed a novel self-rotating drill system, which is consist of turnplate liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fiber under steady illumination. To investigate behaviors LCE proposed nonlinear theoretical model illumination based on well-established dynamic model. Numerical calculation reveals that undergo supercritical Hopf bifurcation between static regime self-rotation regime. The originates contraction winding portion at state, its continuous periodic motion sustained by interrelation light damping dissipation. conditions also investigated detail, as well vital system parameters affecting frequency amplitude. In contrast abundant existing systems, this stands out due simple lightweight structure, customizable dimensions, high speed, thus facilitates design compact integrated enhancing their applicability microdevices systems. This bears great significance fields like micro-robotics, micro-sensors, medical instruments, enabling realization smaller higher-performance devices.