MXenes-based photo-thermal actuator, photo-thermal variable device and application of photo-thermal actuator and photo-thermal variable device

Abstract

The invention discloses a photo-thermal actuator based on MXenes, a photo-thermal variable device and application of the photo-thermal actuator and the photo-thermal variable device, and relates to the technical field of intelligent materials and devices. The photo-thermal actuator comprises a first film and a second film composed of a high-molecular polymer and an MXene material dispersed in the high-molecular polymer, the first film and the high-molecular polymer form a driving layer of the photo-thermal actuator, the MXene material forms an inert layer of the photo-thermal actuator, and the inert layer converts light energy into heat energy so that the driving layer can generate thermal expansion deformation; the photo-thermal variable device comprises a controller, a driving light source and a photo-thermal actuator, the photo-thermal actuator can be controlled through a flexible optical fiber, and various sensors or flexible circuits can be further integrated to achieve specific functions; the problems that an existing photo-thermal actuator is low in working efficiency and poor in reliability are solved, and on the basis of the photo-thermal actuator and the photo-thermal change device, the photo-thermal control flexible crawling robot, the intelligent mechanical clamp, the intelligent lighting system and other applications are provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of smart materials and devices, and in particular to a MXenes-based photothermal actuator, a photothermal variable device and applications thereof. Background Art

[0002] Photothermal actuators are intelligent devices that convert light energy into heat energy and cause deformation or movement. They are widely used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), robots, sensors and other fields.

[0003] Existing photothermal actuators are usually made of metal, carbon-based materials or polymer materials. The basic implementation scheme is that the material absorbs a large number of photons under illumination and induces deformation through the photothermal conversion effect. However, these materials have certain limitations in terms of photothermal conversion efficiency, response speed and stability. These technical challenges have led to limited performance of photothermal actuators in practical applications, especially in long-term use, which is prone to degradation or performance decay, affecting service life and reliability. In addition, the complex manufacturing process and high cost also limit its large-scale production and application. At the same time, there is a large energy loss in the process of converting light energy into thermal energy, which affects the overall work efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention provides a MXenes-based photothermal actuator, a photothermal variable device and applications thereof, aiming to solve the problems of low working efficiency and poor reliability of existing photothermal actuators.

[0005] The MXenes-based photothermal actuator proposed in the present invention includes:

[0006] First film;

[0007] A second film is fixed on the first film; the second film is composed of a high molecular polymer and a MXene material dispersed in the high molecular polymer; the MXene material is used to convert light energy into heat energy;

[0008] The first film and the high molecular polymer constitute the driving layer of the photothermal actuator; the MXene material constitutes the inert layer of the photothermal actuator; the thermal expansion coefficient of the driving layer is greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the inert layer, and the inert layer converts light energy into thermal energy to cause the driving layer to undergo thermal expansion and deformation.

[0009] Optionally, the MXene material is Nb2CT x 、Ti3C2T x 、V2C、Nb2N、Mo2TiC2T x At least one of;

[0010] The high molecular polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); the first film is a polyethylene (PE) film.

[0011] The photothermal device proposed in the present invention includes a controller, a driving light source, and the above-mentioned MXenes-based photothermal actuator;

[0012] The controller is electrically or communicatively connected to the driving light source for issuing control instructions to the driving light source; after receiving the control instructions, the driving light source emits light of preset wavelength and intensity to drive the photothermal actuator to undergo photothermal deformation.

[0013] Optionally, the photothermal device further comprises a flexible optical fiber;

[0014] The flexible optical fiber is connected to the driving light source and attached to the photothermal actuator; the light emitted by the driving light source is transmitted to the photothermal actuator through the flexible optical fiber to drive the photothermal actuator to undergo photothermal deformation.

[0015] Optionally, the photothermal device further comprises a sensor, and the sensor is electrically connected to the controller;

[0016] The sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a light intensity sensor, a humidity sensor, an angle sensor, a gas sensor, and a pressure sensor.

[0017] Optionally, the photothermal actuator further comprises a flexible circuit, and the flexible circuit is attached to the photothermal actuator;

[0018] The photothermal actuator connects the flexible circuit to an external circuit after photothermal deformation, or the photothermal actuator disconnects the electrical connection between the flexible circuit and the external circuit after photothermal deformation.

[0019] The present invention also provides a flexible crawling robot, the flexible crawling robot comprising a head, a tail, and the above-mentioned photothermal variable device; the photothermal variable device comprises at least one photothermal actuator, and the photothermal actuator is arranged between the head and the tail;

[0020] The photothermal actuator performs periodic photothermal deformation under the drive of the driving light source, so as to make the head and the tail move forward.

[0021] Optionally, the photothermal actuator is wavy in shape.

[0022] The present invention also provides an intelligent mechanical pliers, the intelligent mechanical pliers comprising an arm, a clamping portion located at one end of the arm, and the above-mentioned photothermal variable device; the photothermal variable device comprises a plurality of photothermal actuators;

[0023] The clamping part is provided with a plurality of photothermal actuators, at least one of which undergoes photothermal deformation under the drive of a driving light source and cooperates with other photothermal actuators to grasp an object, and when the driving light source is turned off, all the photothermal actuators automatically return to their original state and release the object;

[0024] And / or, the clamping part includes a plurality of mechanical fingers, each mechanical finger includes a plurality of finger joints, and every two finger joints are connected by a photothermal actuator; the photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the illumination of a driving light source, and drives adjacent finger joints to move;

[0025] And / or, a photothermal actuator is provided between the clamping portion and the arm, and the photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under illumination of a driving light source to control the orientation of the clamping portion.

[0026] The present invention further provides an intelligent lighting system, comprising an illumination light source, a power source, a conductive circuit, and a switch arranged on the conductive circuit, wherein the power source supplies power to the illumination light source through the conductive circuit, and the switch is composed of the above-mentioned photothermal actuator and a conductive wire arranged on the photothermal actuator;

[0027] The photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the irradiation of light of a preset wavelength, and the conductive wire is connected to the conductive circuit to light up the lighting source, or the electrical connection between the conductive wire and the conductive circuit is disconnected to extinguish the lighting source.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] The present invention uses MXene (transition metal carbide or nitride) material as the core material of the photothermal actuator, and uses its good stability and surface plasmon resonance effect to make the photothermal actuator have high photothermal conversion efficiency, fast response ability and good stability; based on the advantages of MXene materials, MXene materials are combined with high molecular polymer materials to form a flexible composite film, and MXene materials convert light energy into heat energy. By designing the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the driving layer and the inert layer, the photothermal actuator can be photothermally deformed under light. The device has a simple design structure and is easy to prepare. It is suitable for various application scenarios of photothermal actuators and intelligent systems, such as flexible movement in robotics, automatic adjustment in intelligent buildings, real-time response to environmental monitoring, and efficient mechanical movement in automated production. These applications demonstrate the wide applicability and innovation potential of photothermal actuators in different fields. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art are briefly introduced below.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of photothermal deformation of the MXenes-based photothermal actuator of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a SEM image of a cross section of a PVDF / MXene composite film prepared in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the preparation process of an embodiment of a photothermal actuator based on MXenes according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 Nb2CT used in one embodiment of the MXenes-based photothermal actuator of the present invention x SEM image of nanosheet powder;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a statistical diagram of the photothermal driving performance of an embodiment of a photothermal actuator based on MXenes according to the present invention at different near-infrared light power densities;

[0036] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an application of an intelligent lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] In order to make the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] The terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. (if any) in the specification of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings are only used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that these terms can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described here. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any of their variations are intended to represent non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are clearly listed, and may also include other steps or units that are not clearly listed, or other steps or units that are inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0039] It should be understood that in this application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "multiple" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the relationship between associated objects, indicating that there may be three situations. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single items or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, or any combination thereof, such as "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple. In the description of this specification, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in a suitable manner in any embodiment or multiple embodiments or examples.

[0040] Photothermal actuators are widely used in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS), robots, sensors and other fields. In MEMS, photothermal actuators can achieve micro-scale motion control and energy conversion, and are used in devices such as micro pumps, micro valves and micro actuators to achieve precise fluid control and mechanical motion; photothermal actuators can drive robots to perform complex movements such as bending, stretching and rotation through photothermal conversion to adapt to different working environments; photothermal actuators can respond quickly to environmental changes, thereby improving the performance and reliability of sensors, and are suitable for the development of highly sensitive temperature sensors, pressure sensors and light sensors; in the medical field, photothermal actuators can be used in minimally invasive surgical equipment and drug delivery systems, which can achieve precise control at specific locations, reduce damage to surrounding tissues, and improve treatment effects. Wearable devices, such as smart clothing and health monitoring equipment, can also use photothermal actuators, which can respond to changes in ambient light and provide real-time data feedback and adaptive adjustment.

[0041] Existing photothermal actuators are usually made of metal, carbon-based materials or polymer materials, which have certain limitations in terms of photothermal conversion efficiency, response speed and stability.

[0042] The present invention proposes a photothermal actuator based on MXenes to solve the above problems.

[0043] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment, a MXenes-based photothermal actuator comprises:

[0044] First film;

[0045] A second film is fixed on the first film; the second film is composed of a high molecular polymer and a MXene material uniformly dispersed in the high molecular polymer; the MXene material is used to convert light energy into heat energy;

[0046] The first film and the high molecular polymer constitute the driving layer of the photothermal actuator; the MXene material constitutes the inert layer of the photothermal actuator; the thermal expansion coefficient of the driving layer is greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the inert layer, and the inert layer converts light energy into thermal energy to cause thermal expansion and deformation of the driving layer.

[0047] In this embodiment, MXene (transition metal carbide or nitride) is a new type of two-dimensional material with excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical properties and photothermal conversion capabilities.

[0048] In one embodiment, the MXene material is Nb2CT x , or Ti3C2T x , or V2C, or Nb2N, or Mo2TiC2T x , or a combination of two or more of these materials.

[0049] In one embodiment, the high molecular polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); in other embodiments, the high molecular polymer may also be a combination of one or more of polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinylidene fluoride copolymer, polyacrylate, polyurethane, polyimide and the like.

[0050] The working principle of the MXenes-based photothermal actuator proposed in this embodiment is as follows:

[0051] According to the driving mechanism of photothermal expansion deformation, the greater the difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the driving layer and the inert layer, the greater the deformation difference and bending curvature between the two layers. In this embodiment, a first film and a polymer with a larger CTE are selected as the driver layer, and a MXene material with a smaller CTE is selected as the inert layer. Under certain lighting conditions, the MXene material absorbs a large number of photons due to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, and converts the photon energy into heat through non-radiative transitions, causing thermal expansion of the first film and the polymer, and ultimately causing deformation of the device.

[0052] Among them, CTE refers to the relative expansion rate per unit temperature increase (the ratio of the expansion amplitude to the original size). The larger the value, the more significant the thermal expansion effect.

[0053] SPR refers to the phenomenon that surface plasmons located at the interface of materials with positive and negative conductivity (in actual cases, they are mostly on the surface of conductors) resonate under the stimulation of incident light; surface plasmon polarization is a non-radiative electromagnetic surface wave, and its propagation direction is parallel to the negative conductivity / dielectric material interface. Since the wave is on the boundary between the conductor and the external medium (such as air, water or vacuum), these oscillations are very sensitive to any changes in this boundary, such as the adsorption of molecules on the conductive surface.

[0054] The embodiment of the present invention adopts MXene (transition metal carbide or nitride) material as the core material of the photothermal actuator, and utilizes its good stability and surface plasmon resonance effect to achieve efficient photothermal conversion, rapid response and good stability; the photothermal actuator proposed in the embodiment of the present invention exhibits rapid and reversible bending deformation characteristics under light irradiation, and is suitable for various precision control and dynamic adjustment scenarios.

[0055] Based on the above embodiments, Nb2CT x For example, see Figure 3 The preparation method of the photothermal actuator based on MXenes proposed in the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0056] PVDF and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were mixed and stirred until completely dissolved to obtain a PVDF / DMF solution; then Nb2CT was gradually added x The nanosheet powder is dispersed by ultrasound to form a mixed solution; Figure 4 The Nb2CT used in this example x SEM image of nanosheet powder.

[0057] The mixed solution was cast on a glass substrate and peeled off after vacuum drying to form a PVDF / MXene composite film. The obtained composite film was characterized and its performance tested. Figure 2 This is the SEM image of the cross section of the composite film.

[0058] The prepared PVDF / MXene composite film is cut into required sizes; and the PVDF / MXene composite film is bonded and fixed on the PE film to ensure the structural stability of the film.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, the film forming method of the mixed solution is a solution casting method, so as to simplify the manufacturing process of the photothermal actuator, reduce the production cost, and facilitate large-scale production. In addition, spraying, spin coating or deposition methods can also be used to adapt to different manufacturing scales and complexity requirements, providing more options and flexibility.

[0060] After completing the above preparation steps, the assembled photothermal actuator is placed under a light source to measure its photothermal driving performance, including indicators such as bending angle, bending curvature, bending speed, and temperature change, in order to evaluate its actual effect and stability in photothermal driving applications; see Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a statistical chart of the photothermal driving performance test of the photothermal driver under different near-infrared light power densities.

[0061] In this embodiment, Nb2CT x It has excellent conductivity, mechanical properties and photothermal conversion capabilities, as well as excellent chemical and physical stability, which can significantly extend the service life of the photothermal actuator and enhance its reliability in complex environments.

[0062] Using multi-layer Nb2CT x The photothermal actuator made of nanosheets has a progressive CTE layer-by-layer microstructure. Under certain lighting conditions (such as near-infrared light), multilayer Nb2CT x The nanosheet absorbs a large number of photons due to the SPR effect and converts the photon energy into heat through non-radiative transition. The generated heat is generated by Nb2CT x The heat is transferred outward layer by layer, causing the thermal expansion of PVDF and PE, and finally causing the photothermal actuator to deform. Figure 1 , Figure 1 Nb2CT x Schematic diagram of the bending deformation of the photothermal actuator. The actuator exhibits rapid and reversible bending deformation characteristics under light irradiation, which is suitable for precision control and dynamic adjustment scenarios.

[0063] It can be seen from the above embodiments that the present invention composites MXene materials with polymer matrix materials, and utilizes the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the MXene material and the driving layer to deform the photothermal actuator. The MXene photothermal actuator proposed in the present invention has a simple structure and is easy to manufacture, and fully utilizes the excellent conductivity, mechanical properties and photothermal conversion capabilities of the MXene material, so that the photothermal actuator has high photothermal conversion efficiency, rapid response capability and good stability; the present invention also minimizes the energy loss in the heat transfer process by optimizing material selection and structural design, improves the overall energy utilization efficiency and response speed of the photothermal actuator, and further improves the mechanical properties of the photothermal actuator and the reliability in complex environments; based on the above advantages, the photothermal actuator proposed in the present invention is suitable for a variety of application scenarios and can promote the development and innovation of related technologies.

[0064] In addition to the basic photothermal conversion function, the MXenes-based photothermal actuators described in the above embodiments can also integrate other materials or components to achieve a wider range of functional requirements.

[0065] In one embodiment, the photothermal actuator can be used as the blades of a blind. The photothermal actuator is integrated with a photochromic film. When the external environment changes, the opening angle of the window or sunshade is automatically adjusted while adjusting the light transmittance of the photochromic film to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature while reducing energy consumption.

[0066] In one embodiment, the photothermal actuator is used in an in vivo drug release system. The capsule containing the drug is provided with a photothermal actuator release window. The rate of drug release can be controlled by light irradiation. The photothermal actuator can also be integrated with temperature-sensitive materials (such as liposomes that undergo phase changes at a specific temperature, hydrogels that change pore size at a specific temperature, etc.) to achieve multi-stimulus source response for drug release targeting fever lesions.

[0067] In some other embodiments, the photothermal actuator described in the above embodiments can form a photothermal variable device with a controller and a driving light source to realize active adjustment of the deformation degree of the photothermal actuator. The controller is electrically connected or communicatively connected with the driving light source to issue a control instruction to the driving light source; after receiving the control instruction, the driving light source emits light of a preset wavelength and intensity to drive the photothermal actuator to deform.

[0068] In a specific embodiment, the photothermal variable device also includes a flexible optical fiber; the flexible optical fiber is connected to a driving light source and attached to the photothermal actuator; the light emitted by the driving light source is transmitted to the surface of the photothermal actuator through the flexible optical fiber to drive its deformation.

[0069] In a specific embodiment, the photothermotropic device further includes a sensor, which is electrically connected to the controller; the sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a light intensity sensor, a humidity sensor, an angle sensor, a gas sensor, and a pressure sensor.

[0070] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is a temperature sensor.

[0071] In one implementation of this embodiment, the temperature sensor is used to detect changes in ambient temperature and send a temperature sensing signal to a controller. The controller controls the driving light source to adjust the degree of deformation of the photothermal actuator to change the opening angle of the window blades or sunshade layer.

[0072] In one implementation of this embodiment, the temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the air outlet of the air conditioner and send a temperature sensing signal to the controller. The controller controls the driving light source to adjust the deformation degree of the photothermal actuator to change the opening angle of the air outlet baffle of the air conditioner.

[0073] In one implementation of this embodiment, the photothermal actuator is integrated into the clothing fabric, and the temperature sensor is used to detect changes in ambient temperature and send a temperature sensing signal to a controller. The controller controls the driving light source to adjust the deformation degree of the photothermal actuator to change the air permeability of the clothing fabric.

[0074] In one implementation of this embodiment, the temperature sensor is used to detect the distance between the waveguide and the human eye in a head-mounted display device (such as VR or AR), and send a temperature sensing signal to a controller, which adjusts the driving light source to change the deformation degree of the photothermal actuator, thereby adjusting the position or shape of the waveguide to achieve dynamic focusing.

[0075] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is a light intensity sensor; the light intensity sensor is used to detect changes in ambient temperature, send signals to a controller, and adjust the degree of deformation of the photothermal actuator to change the opening angle of the window blades or sunshade.

[0076] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is a gas sensor; the gas sensor is used to detect changes in gas concentration and adjust the opening angle of the gas valve or window blades.

[0077] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is a humidity sensor; the humidity sensor is used to detect changes in outdoor humidity and adjust the opening angle of window blades, such as automatically closing the window on rainy days.

[0078] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is a pressure sensor; the pressure sensor is used to detect the pressure between the strap of a watch or bracelet and the human wrist, and adjust the tightness of the strap to improve wearing comfort.

[0079] In a specific embodiment, the sensor is an angle sensor; the angle sensor is used to detect the degree of deformation of the photothermal actuator, or to detect the angle of a rotating part driven by the photothermal actuator; for example, the photothermal actuator is used for angle control of a robot joint or a robotic arm to achieve precise operation of the rotation angle or tilt angle.

[0080] The above embodiments or implementations for changing the opening angle of window blades or sunshade layers can be applied to sunshade systems of building windows, vehicle windows or agricultural greenhouses, etc. For example, when the gas sensor detects that the indoor carbon dioxide concentration is too high, it triggers the driving light source to emit light to deform the photothermal actuator to open the window; or when the humidity sensor detects that the outdoor humidity is high, the window is automatically closed.

[0081] The above embodiments for watches or bracelets may also integrate one or a combination of two or more of a heart rate sensor, an accelerometer, and a temperature sensor to ensure accurate data collection.

[0082] Since the photothermal deformation of the photothermal actuator is a flexible bending deformation, in some embodiments, the sensor mentioned above can be a flexible sensor, and the flexible sensor is attached to the surface of the photothermal actuator.

[0083] In some other embodiments, the photothermal actuator is further integrated with a flexible circuit;

[0084] The photothermal actuator connects or disconnects the flexible circuit from the external circuit after photothermal deformation.

[0085] In a specific embodiment, the flexible circuit is a wireless communication circuit; the photothermal actuator is deformed after being irradiated with light of a preset wavelength, and the wireless communication circuit is connected to an external circuit to send a warning signal to a remote wireless communication device; this embodiment can be used for security cameras or infrared sensing access control systems to detect infrared light and then control the angle of the camera or the switch status of the door, and send a warning signal through the wireless communication circuit.

[0086] In a specific embodiment, the flexible circuit is a radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit, which is used to mark the photothermal actuator; after the RFID signal is read, it sends an identification signal to the controller, and the controller adjusts the working state of the driving light source according to the signal, thereby controlling the deformation degree of the photothermal actuator.

[0087] The MXenes-based photothermal actuators or photothermal devices proposed in the above embodiments can be applied to intelligent systems.

[0088] The intelligent system is any one of a flexible crawling robot, an intelligent mechanical clamp and an intelligent lighting system.

[0089] In one embodiment, the intelligent system is a flexible crawling robot, which includes a head, a tail and at least one photothermal actuator disposed therebetween; the photothermal actuator periodically deforms under the action of a driving light source, causing the head and the tail to crawl forward alternately.

[0090] In this embodiment, the crawling robot is a worm-like flexible crawling robot, and the photothermal actuator serves as a flexible connection between the head and the tail; the head and the tail are designed to have different ground contact angles, and the photothermal actuator performs a deformation-recovery cycle according to a preset rule under the regulation of near-infrared light, simulating the worm's wave-like muscle contraction and expansion, so that the head and the tail move forward alternately, thereby driving the crawling robot to perform fast and precise directional creeping.

[0091] In one embodiment, the flexible connection portion includes multiple independent photothermal actuators and corresponding light sources; the lengths, materials, structures and relative position relationships of the multiple photothermal actuators are designed, and the turning or climbing functions of the crawling robot can be achieved by controlling a single photothermal actuator to bend and deform.

[0092] In one embodiment, the photothermal actuator is wavy in shape; under the irradiation of near-infrared light, the wavy photothermal actuator deforms and elongates, pushing the head forward, and after the light source is turned off, the actuator retracts to drive the tail forward; this embodiment adopts a wavy design to make the flexible connection easier to bend and twist, thereby enhancing the flexibility of the crawling robot in complex environments.

[0093] In one embodiment, a remote communication circuit is provided in the flexible crawling robot, and the remote communication circuit is connected to the controller of the photothermal device, and is used to receive remote control signals, and send control instructions to the driving light source through the controller. The controller includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores a control program; the processor executes the control program to realize the on-off frequency and duration control of the near-infrared light source, so as to adjust the crawling speed and direction of the crawling robot or control the head of the crawling robot to lift up for climbing action.

[0094] In one embodiment, the intelligent system is an intelligent mechanical clamp, which includes an arm and a clamping part composed of multiple photothermal actuators; the photothermal actuator deforms to grasp an object under the irradiation of a driving light source, and returns to its original state and releases the object after the light source is turned off.

[0095] In one embodiment, the gripping part includes a plurality of mechanical fingers, each of which includes a plurality of finger joints, and each two finger joints are connected by a photothermal actuator; the photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the irradiation of a driving light source, and drives the adjacent finger joints to move. This embodiment has a higher grasping flexibility and is suitable for delicate operations.

[0096] In one embodiment, a photothermal actuator is provided between the clamping portion and the arm to control the orientation of the clamping portion.

[0097] In one embodiment, a flexible protective layer is further provided on the surface of the photothermal actuator to prevent the photothermal actuator from being worn.

[0098] In one embodiment, a driving light source can control each photothermal actuator through an optical fiber system; specifically, a flexible optical fiber is fixed on each photothermal actuator to connect with the driving light source, and the driving light source transmits light to the corresponding photothermal actuator through the optical fiber system to achieve independent control; this embodiment facilitates the arrangement of the driving light source, improves the stability of the optical path, and is suitable for various complex operating environments.

[0099] See also Figure 6In one embodiment, the intelligent system is an intelligent lighting system, which includes a lighting source, a power supply, a conductive circuit, and a switch arranged on the conductive circuit. The power supply supplies power to the lighting source through the conductive circuit, and the switch is composed of a photothermal actuator and a conductive wire arranged on the photothermal actuator.

[0100] The photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the irradiation of light of a preset wavelength, connecting the conductive wire to the conductive circuit to light up the lighting source, or disconnecting the electrical connection between the conductive wire and the conductive circuit to extinguish the lighting source.

[0101] In one embodiment, the photothermal actuator deforms under the irradiation of infrared light; when a person or animal is detected approaching, the infrared radiation of the organism triggers the photothermal actuator to close the switch and light up the lighting source; when no one approaches, the switch is opened and the lighting source is extinguished, thereby realizing intelligent control and energy saving of the lighting system.

[0102] In another embodiment, the photothermal actuator deforms under the irradiation of natural light; this embodiment can be used for street lighting. At night or when the ambient light is dim, the photothermal actuator closes the switch to light the street lamp; during the day, under the action of sunlight, the photothermal actuator deforms and disconnects the switch, turning off the street lamp.

[0103] The embodiments described above are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the foregoing embodiments have described the present application in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments may still be modified, or some of the technical features therein may be replaced by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A photothermal actuator based on MXenes, characterized in that: include: First film; a second film fixed on the first film; The second film is composed of a high molecular polymer and a MXene material dispersed in the high molecular polymer; the MXene material is used to convert light energy into heat energy; The first film and the high molecular polymer constitute the driving layer of the photothermal actuator; the MXene material constitutes the inert layer of the photothermal actuator; the thermal expansion coefficient of the driving layer is greater than the thermal expansion coefficient of the inert layer, and the inert layer converts light energy into thermal energy to cause the driving layer to undergo thermal expansion and deformation.

2. The MXenes-based photothermal actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The MXene material is Nb2CT x 、Ti3C2T x 、V2C、Nb2N、Mo2TiC2T x At least one of; The high molecular polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); the first film is a polyethylene (PE) film.

3. A photothermal device, characterized in that: The photothermal variable device comprises a controller, a driving light source, and the photothermal actuator according to claim 1 or 2; The controller is electrically or communicatively connected to the driving light source for issuing control instructions to the driving light source; after receiving the control instructions, the driving light source emits light of preset wavelength and intensity to drive the photothermal actuator to undergo photothermal deformation.

4. The photothermotropic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The photothermal device also includes a flexible optical fiber; The flexible optical fiber is connected to the driving light source and attached to the photothermal actuator; the light emitted by the driving light source is transmitted to the photothermal actuator through the flexible optical fiber to drive the photothermal actuator to undergo photothermal deformation.

5. The photothermotropic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The photothermal variable device further comprises a sensor, and the sensor is electrically connected to the controller; The sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a light intensity sensor, a humidity sensor, an angle sensor, a gas sensor, and a pressure sensor.

6. The photothermotropic device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The photothermal variable device further comprises a flexible circuit, and the flexible circuit is attached to the photothermal actuator; The photothermal actuator connects the flexible circuit to an external circuit after photothermal deformation, or the photothermal actuator disconnects the electrical connection between the flexible circuit and the external circuit after photothermal deformation.

7. A flexible crawling robot, characterized in that: The flexible crawling robot comprises a head, a tail, and the photothermal variable device according to any one of claims 3 to 6; the photothermal variable device comprises at least one photothermal actuator, and the photothermal actuator is arranged between the head and the tail; The photothermal actuator undergoes periodic photothermal deformation under the drive of the driving light source, so that the head and the tail move forward by creeping.

8. The flexible crawling robot according to claim 7, characterized in that: The photothermal actuator is in a wave shape.

9. An intelligent mechanical pliers, characterized in that: The intelligent mechanical clamp comprises an arm, a clamping portion located at one end of the arm, and the photothermal variable device according to any one of claims 3 to 6; the photothermal variable device comprises a plurality of photothermal actuators; The clamping part is provided with a plurality of photothermal actuators, at least one of which undergoes photothermal deformation under the drive of a driving light source and cooperates with other photothermal actuators to grasp an object, and when the driving light source is turned off, all the photothermal actuators automatically return to their original state and release the object; And / or, the clamping part includes a plurality of mechanical fingers, each mechanical finger includes a plurality of finger joints, and every two finger joints are connected by a photothermal actuator; the photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the illumination of a driving light source, and drives adjacent finger joints to move; And / or, a photothermal actuator is provided between the clamping portion and the arm, and the photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under illumination of a driving light source to control the orientation of the clamping portion.

10. An intelligent lighting system, characterized in that: The intelligent lighting system comprises an illumination light source, a power source, a conductive circuit and a switch arranged on the conductive circuit, wherein the power source supplies power to the illumination light source through the conductive circuit, and the switch is composed of the photothermal actuator according to claim 1 or 2 and a conductive wire arranged on the photothermal actuator; The photothermal actuator undergoes photothermal deformation under the irradiation of light of a preset wavelength, and the conductive wire is connected to the conductive circuit to light up the lighting source, or the electrical connection between the conductive wire and the conductive circuit is disconnected to extinguish the lighting source.

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