Objective Living organisms teach us how to design material structures that can move autonomously. Such motility is not restricted to animated organisms but can also originate from local differences t expansion coefficients in ligneous compounds. This challenges the design of micro-objects that can perform mechanical work and undergo locomotion. Irrespective of the specific material, three fundamental tasks must be solved: (i) to fuel the material for the actuation; (ii) to control the morphing of the object in time and space; and (iii) to establish a feed-back mechanism that enables timing of a sequence of steps. The later refers to an integrated clock function in order to pulse the energy input for distinct mechanical strokes. Within JELLYCLOCK, we address all three questions at the example of light driven hydrogel micro-objects. We have developed light sensitive microgels that change their shape within milliseconds. IR-irradiation of gold nanorods, entrapped in a thermosensitive hydrogel, is used to heat the gel from inside and enable a gradated spatial and temporal control of its swelling and shrinking. The water-based actuation will be directed to generate a non-reciprocal deformation as required for locomotion at low Reynolds numbers. So far, a directed cyclic deformation action relies on the outside modulation of the irradiation. We will extent this concept by introducing self-oscillating absorption efficiency, so that a stepwise body deformation becomes feasible under continuous irradiation. The project comprises (1) the advanced design of hydrogel based actuators driven by modulated light, (2) achievement of a precise control of the deformation in time and space , and as the actual disruptive step, (3) the realization of a self-sustaining pulsation under continuous near IR irradiation. Such soft micro engines strike a new path to micro-robotics for biomedical or biomechanical applications, or to create micro devices that could mix, sort and circulate fluid. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologybacteriologynatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologystrokeengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloids Keywords Bioinspired Materials Engineering Responsive Materials Morphing Selfpropelling Soft Colloids Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-ADG-2015 - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2015-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Host institution DWI LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR INTERAKTIVE MATERIALIEN EV Net EU contribution € 2 280 000,00 Address FORCKENBECKSTRASSE 50 52074 Aachen Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 280 000,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all DWI LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUR INTERAKTIVE MATERIALIEN EV Germany Net EU contribution € 2 280 000,00 Address FORCKENBECKSTRASSE 50 52074 Aachen See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 280 000,00
