
Nanotechnology Now – Press Release: Channels mechanical energy in the preferred direction
Home > Press > Channels mechanical energy in the preferred direction
Abstract:
A research group led by scientists from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science have developed a unique material, based on nanofillers embedded in hydrogels, which can channel mechanical energy in one direction but not the other, acting in a “nonreciprocal” way. With this composite material — which can be made in a variety of sizes — the team was able to use up-and-down vibrational motions to cause liquid droplets to rise within the material against gravity. Thus, using this material makes it possible to take advantage of random vibrations and move the material in the desired direction.
Channels mechanical energy in the preferred direction
Saitama, Japan | Posted April 14, 2023
Channeling energy in a favorable direction is an important property that truly makes life possible. Many basic biological functions such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration are made possible by channeling random fluctuations in nature in a non-reciprocal way, to keep systems from increasing in entropy, like the famous Maxwell’s demon. For example, devices that allow energy to move preferentially exist in electronics, where they allow AC current to be converted to DC current. Similar devices are used in the fields of photonics, magnetism and sound. However, despite the many potential uses, constructing devices that transmit mechanical energy has proved more difficult.
Now, the RIKEN-led group has developed an extraordinary yet uniform material that is relatively easy to manufacture and can perform this function. To make it, the group used a hydrogel—a soft material made mostly of water and a polyacrylamide network—and embedded graphene oxide nanofiller into it at an oblique angle. The hydrogel is fixed to the floor, so that the upper part can move when subjected to a shear force but not the bottom. And the filler is set at an oblique angle, so it tilts clockwise from top to bottom. When a shear force is applied from right to left to the inclined nanofillers, they tend to warp and therefore lose their resilience. But if the force is from the other direction, and the nanofillers are facing away from them, the shear force applied just makes them stretch longer, and they retain their strength. This allowed the sheet to deform in one direction but not the other, and in fact the group measured this difference, finding that the material was roughly 60 times more resistant in one direction than the other.
As an experiment to demonstrate what this could actually do, they made blocks of the material and placed them on vibrating stands. Depending on the tilt direction of the embedded nanofiller, the material is able to transmit vibrational energy through the material to make the droplet move to the right or left. They can also use vibrations to actuate circular motions which can be controlled clockwise or counterclockwise. When attaching the vibrating stand vertically, the drops of colored liquid placed on the hydrogel move upward against gravity as if by magic. In this way, the alternating vibrational motion, which is normally useless, is channeled to create clean motion.
Finally, as further testing, in collaboration with researchers from the RIKEN Hakubi Fellows program, the group placed Caenorhabditis elegans worms on the material, and although their movements were usually random, they ended up moving to one side or the other of the hydrogel. , depending on the tilt direction of the embedded nanofiller.
According to Yasuhiro Ishida of the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science who led the project, “It was an amazing and surprising result to see how mechanical energy can be channeled in one direction in such a special way, in such an obvious way, and using materials that are quite easy to manufacture. and quite measurable. In the future, we plan to find applications for this material, with the hope that we can use it to effectively utilize vibrational energy that has hitherto been considered waste.”
####
For more information, please click Here
Contact:
Jens Wilkinson
KINGDOM
Office: 81-484-621-424
If you have any comments, please Contact us.
The news release publisher, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, is solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
News and information
A new family of wheel-like metal clusters demonstrates unique properties April 14, 2023
Efficient heat dissipation perovskite laser using a diamond substrate with high thermal conductivity April 14, 2023
Nanobiotechnology: How NanoMaterials Can Solve Biological and Medical Problems April 14th, 2023
New Developments in Biosensor Technology: From Nanomaterials to Cancer Detection April 14th, 2023
Possible Futures
A new family of wheel-like metal clusters demonstrates unique properties April 14, 2023
Diamond cut precision: University of Illinois to develop diamond sensors for neutron experiments and quantum information science April 14, 2023
Implantable devices shrink pancreatic tumors: Taming pancreatic cancer with intratumoral immunotherapy April 14th, 2023
Manchester graphene spin-out signs $1 billion game-changing deal to help address global sustainability challenges: Historic deal for graphene commercialization April 14, 2023
Invention
Efficient heat dissipation perovskite laser using a diamond substrate with high thermal conductivity April 14, 2023
Data can now be processed at the speed of light! April 14, 2023
Diamond cut precision: University of Illinois to develop diamond sensors for neutron experiments and quantum information science April 14, 2023
Implantable devices shrink pancreatic tumors: Taming pancreatic cancer with intratumoral immunotherapy April 14th, 2023
Announcement
Nanobiotechnology: How NanoMaterials Can Solve Biological and Medical Problems April 14th, 2023
New Developments in Biosensor Technology: From Nanomaterials to Cancer Detection April 14th, 2023
IOP Publishing celebrates World Quantum Day with the announcement of a special quantum collection and winner of two prestigious quantum awards 14 April 2023
Data can now be processed at the speed of light! April 14, 2023
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White Papers/Posters
A new family of wheel-like metal clusters demonstrates unique properties April 14, 2023
Efficient heat dissipation perovskite laser using a diamond substrate with high thermal conductivity April 14, 2023
Diamond cut precision: University of Illinois to develop diamond sensors for neutron experiments and quantum information science April 14, 2023
Implantable devices shrink pancreatic tumors: Taming pancreatic cancer with intratumoral immunotherapy April 14th, 2023
Energy
Universal HCl assistant powder-to-powder strategy for preparing lead-free perovskites March 24, 2023
TUS researchers propose a simple, low-cost approach for fabricating carbon nanotube cables on plastic films: The proposed method produces cables suitable for developing all-carbon devices, including flexible sensors and energy conversion and storage devices March 3, 2023
Make them thin enough, and the antiferroelectric material becomes ferroelectric February 10, 2023
Quantum sensors spot Weyl photocurrent flow: A Boston College-led team developed a new quantum sensor technique to image and understand the origin of photocurrent flow in Weyl semimetals January 27, 2023
Battery/Capacitor/Generator/Piezoelectric/Thermoelectric/Energy storage technology
Solid polymer electrolyte reinforced bilayer PET/PVDF substrate enhances solid state lithium metal battery performance March 24, 2023
New microscope developed to design better high-performance batteries: Innovation gives researchers an in-depth look at how batteries work February 10, 2023
Beyond lithium: a promising cathode material for magnesium rechargeable batteries: Scientists find the optimal composition for cathode magnesium secondary batteries to achieve better cycles and high battery capacity February 10, 2023
Make them thin enough, and the antiferroelectric material becomes ferroelectric February 10, 2023