Research Highlight Top Story

Human muscle-inspired Hercules artificial muscle fiber

Prof. Sang Ouk Kim’s group has developed robust and durable actuator fibers by incorporating 2D graphene fillers in aligned liquid crystal elastomer matrix; these fibers surpass the strength and toughness of human muscle. The reversible percolation of the graphene filler network within the composite structure upon contraction/recovery actuation offers interesting electrical switching behavior, as well as work capacity and power density far beyond those of human or mammalian muscles....read more