Water-responsive materials and uses therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264207-B2
Application number	US-202117214132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2021
Priority date	Apr 6, 2018
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

A rotary engine that generates electricity using differences in relative humidity. A water-responsive material expands and contracts as water evaporates which drives the rotation of two wheels. The rotary motion drives an electrical generator which produces electricity. In another embodiment, the water-responsive material is used to actuate an artificial muscle of a robotic device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for actuating an artificial muscle, the method comprising:
exposing a flexible substrate to air with a first humidity, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan from a bacterial cell wall; and
exposing the substrate to air with a second humidity, different than the first humidity, wherein the second humidity causes a change in hygroscopic expansion or contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the peptidoglycan is peptidoglycan from the bacterial cell wall of Bacillus subtilis.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein peptidoglycan is mixed with a secondary component selected from a group consisting of an epoxy, a cellulose, a collagen and a polymer adhesive.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by a crosslinker.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan is transferred to a secondary movement selected from rotational movement, expansion, contraction or a combination thereof.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate has a thickness between 500 nm and 5 mm.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate has a Yong's modulus between 10 kPa and 10 GPa.

8. A method for actuating an artificial muscle, the method comprising:
exposing a flexible substrate to air with a first humidity, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan;
exposing the substrate to air with a second humidity, different than the first humidity, wherein the second humidity causes a change in hygroscopic expansion or contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate; and
wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by an amphiphilic peptide stem.

9. A method for actuating an artificial muscle, the method comprising:
exposing a flexible substrate to air with a first humidity, wherein the flexible substrate comprises a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan;
exposing the substrate to air with a second humidity, different than the first humidity, wherein the second humidity causes a change in hygroscopic expansion or contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate; and
wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by a crosslinker selected from a group consisting of glutaraldehyde, O,O′-Bis[2-(N-Succinimidyl-succinylamino)ethyl]polyethylene glycol, and BS(PEG)9 (PEGylated bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate).

10. An artificial muscle comprising:
a flexible substrate with a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan from a bacterial cell wall, the peptidoglycan having with a thickness between 500 nm and 5 mm, wherein humid air contacting the peptidoglycan causes hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate.

11. The artificial muscle according to claim 10 , wherein the peptidoglycan is peptidoglycan from the bacterial cell wall of Bacillus subtilis.

12. The artificial muscle according to claim 10 , wherein peptidoglycan is mixed with a secondary component selected from a group consisting of an epoxy, a cellulose, a collagen and a polymer adhesive.

13. The artificial muscle according to claim 10 , wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by a crosslinker.

14. The artificial muscle according to claim 10 , wherein the hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan in the artificial muscle relies on the changes in local relative humidity level or temperature.

15. The artificial muscle according to claim 10 , wherein the hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan is transferred to a secondary movement selected from rotational movement, translational movement, expansion, contraction or a combination thereof.

16. An artificial muscle comprising:
a flexible substrate with a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan with a thickness between 500 nm and 5 mm, wherein humid air contacting the peptidoglycan causes hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate; and
wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by an amphiphilic peptide stem.

17. An artificial muscle comprising:
a flexible substrate with a surface that is coated with a peptidoglycan with a thickness between 500 nm and 5 mm, wherein humid air contacting the peptidoglycan causes hygroscopic expansion and contraction of the peptidoglycan, thereby actuating the substrate; and
wherein the peptidoglycan is cross-linked by a crosslinker selected from a group consisting of glutaraldehyde, O,O′-Bis[2-(N-Succinimidyl-succinylamino)ethyl]polyethylene glycol, and BS(PEG)9 (PEGylated bis(sulfosuccinimidyl)suberate).

Assignees

• Univ City New York Res Found

Inventors

• Chen Xi
• Ulijn Rein V
• Liu zhi-lun
• Wang Yi-Ren
• Kroiss Daniela
• Wang Haozhen

Classifications

• F03G7/06

  using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like (using thermal expansion of non-vaporising liquids F01K) · CPC title

• B25J9/1095

  chemically actuated · CPC title

• B25J9/1075

  with muscles or tendons · CPC title

• C09D105/00

  Coating compositions based on polysaccharides or on their derivatives, not provided for in groups C09D101/00 or C09D103/00 · CPC title

• B25J9/0015

  Flexure members, i.e. parts of manipulators having a narrowed section allowing articulation by flexion · CPC title