Project description DEENESFRITPL Paving the way for soft, stretchy electronics and microrobotics Soft and stretchable electronic devices are creating new possibilities to integrate new functionalities and forms in materials. The field has opened up a wide range of novel applications, for example in healthcare monitoring, leveraging ultrathin skin-like flexible devices. In the microrobotics realm, actuators composed of soft active materials enable unprecedented structures and devices that are nearly impossible to achieve with conventional rigid systems. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the cross-disciplinary CLEAR project will merge the stretchable electronics and soft robotics fields. Its goal is to build up a novel material platform that possesses multifunctional electronic control, sensing and signalling coupled with actuation in response to environmental stimuli, such as electricity, heat and light. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The overall goal of this cross-disciplinary project is to combine stretchable electronics with soft robotics in order to build up a novel materials platform that possesses multifunctional electronic control, sensing, and signaling coupled with actuation in response to environmental stimuli, such as electricity, heat, and light. In recent years the transformation of electronics into soft and stretchable organic systems has opened up a wide range of novel applications, including healthcare monitoring with ultrathin skin-like flexible devices, whereas actuators composed of soft active materials possess characteristics for microrobotics that are nearly impossible to achieve with conventional rigid systems, most notably mechanical compatibility with biological tissue. In this project interpenetrating conducting polymer networks will be fabricated in an actuator composed of a liquid crystal elastomer, a class of materials that has undergone rapid development within the past decade and is considered one of the best candidates for microscale soft robotics. The stimuli-response of the actuator brings about possibilities towards autonomous action, where it can sense the environment and act accordingly, representing multifunctional materials where the matrix has an active role in functionality. The unique combination of properties and functionalities promises coupled sensing and actuation that could have a transformative impact on the use of liquid crystal elastomers in soft matter applications. I envision that the conducting actuators have future applications as wearable sensors for heart rate detection and electrical nerve stimulation, with the reversible shape change enabling them to smoothly envelop around the target tissue. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssoft matter physicsnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticssoft roboticsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringliquid crystals Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2020 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2020 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator TAMPEREEN KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR Net EU contribution € 202 680,96 Address Kalevantie 4 33100 Tampere Finland See on map Region Manner-Suomi Länsi-Suomi Pirkanmaa Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments 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 Other funding € 0,00
