Magnetic Composites: From Soft Robotics to Eco-Sustainable Magnetoelectronics

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Contents of the Talk

Composites consisting of magnetic fillers in polymers and elastomers enable new types of applications in soft robotics, reconfigurable actuation and sensorics. We will introduce lightweight, durable, untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots that can walk, swim, levitate, transport cargo, and perform collaborative tasks being driven using magnetic far fields [1,2] and near fields [3,4]. Reconfigurable magnetic origami actuators [2] can be equipped with ultrathin magnetosensitive e-skins [5] to decide on and control the actuation pattern. The on-board sensing adds awareness to soft-bodied magnetic actuators enabling them to act and be controlled similar to conventional robotic devices [6]. Magnetic composites containing functional fillers with high degree of spin polarization can be readily used to realise not only actuators but also solution-processable magnetic field sensors [7]. We will demonstrate that printed magnetoelectronics can be stretchable, skin-conformal, capable of detection in low magnetic fields and withstand extreme mechanical deformations [8,9]. The use of Bi as a functional filler of a composite [9] acts as a green alternative to conventional environmentally polluting Ni-based sensors [8]. We show that printed Bi sensors reveal a linear nonsaturating magnetoresistive response, which is a fingerprint of the electronic band structure of the Bi material - a higher order topological insulator. We feature the potential of printed magnetic field sensors to turn any object into an interactive surface via the realization of a smart magnetosensitive wallpaper or in-mold magnetoelectronics [9]. We will present a technology to realize self-healable magnetic field sensors, which can be repaired upon mechanical damage, hence extending the life-time of magnetoelectronics and reducing the amount of toxic magnetic waste [10]. This opens new perspectives for magnetoelectronics in smart wearables, interactive printed electronics and motivates further explorations towards the realization of recyclable magnetoelectronics [11]. For the latter, we will discuss eco-sustainable, namely biocompatible and biodegradable magneto sensitive devices, which can help to minimise electronic waste and bring magnetoelectronics to new application fields in medical implants and health monitoring [6].

References

[1] X. Wang et al., Untethered and ultrafast soft-bodied robots. Commun. Mater. 1, 67 (2020).
[2] M. Ha et al., Reconfigurable magnetic origami actuators with on-board sensing for guided assembly. Adv. Mater. 33, 2008751 (2021).
[3] M. Richter et al., Locally addressable energy efficient actuation of magnetic soft actuator array systems. Advanced Science 2302077 (2023).
[4] L. Masjosthusmann et al., Miniaturized variable stiffness gripper locally actuated by magnetic fields. Advanced Intelligent Systems 6, 2400037 (2024).
[5] G. S. Canon Bermudez et al., Magnetosensitive e-skins for interactive devices. Adv. Funct. Mater. (Review) 31, 2007788 (2021).
[6] E. S. Oliveros Mata et al., Magnetically aware actuating composites: Sensing features as inspiration for the next step in advanced magnetic soft robotics. Phys. Rev. Appl. (Review) 20, 060501 (2023).
[7] L. Guo et al., Printable magnetoresistive sensors: A crucial step toward unconventional magnetoelectronics. Chinese Journal of Structural Chemistry (Review) 100428 (2024).
[8] M. Ha et al., Printable and stretchable giant magnetoresistive sensors for highly compliant and skin-conformal electronics. Adv. Mater. 33, 2005521 (2021).
[9] E. S. Oliveros Mata et al., Dispenser printed bismuth-based magnetic field sensors with non-saturating large magnetoresistance for touchless interactive surfaces. Adv. Mater. Technol. 7, 2200227 (2022).
[10] R. Xu et al., Self-healable printed magnetic field sensors using alternating magnetic fields. Nature Communications 13, 6587 (2022).
[11] X. Wang et al., Printed magnetoresistive sensors for recyclable magnetoelectronics. J. Mater. Chem. A 12, 24906 (2024).

Short CV

Denys Makarov received his Master Degree (2005) at the National University of Kyiv in Ukraine, followed by a Ph.D. in physics (2008) from the University of Konstanz in Germany. Currently, he is head of department “Intelligent materials and systems” at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and leads the Helmholtz Innovation Lab FlexiSens. With his activities, Denys Makarov made a decisive contribution to the development of curvilinear magnetism and stimulated research on spintronics on flexible, bendable and stretchable surfaces. Mechanically flexible and skin-conformal magnetic field sensors enable new application scenarios for human-machine interfaces, eMobility and medicine. These activities are supported via major national and European projects. Denys Makarov is Senior Member of the IEEE and Fellow of the Young Academy of Europe.