Transparent and Electrically Switchable Thin Film Tactile Actuators Based on Molecular Orientation

Fuente: arXiv
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Nolin, Abigail, Lo, Chun-Yuan, Kayser, Laure V., Dhong, Charles B.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866915016027930624
author Nolin, Abigail
Lo, Chun-Yuan
Kayser, Laure V.
Dhong, Charles B.
author_facet Nolin, Abigail
Lo, Chun-Yuan
Kayser, Laure V.
Dhong, Charles B.
contents Most tactile actuators create tactile sensations through vibrations or the mechanical and electrochemical formation of bumps. However, tactile sensations of real objects arise from friction which is derived not only from physical topography, but also surface chemistry. Here, we show that molecular rearrangement can be leveraged to create new classes of tactile actuators based on the phases of liquid crystals embedded in a solid and transparent polymer film. We found that humans can feel differences by touch, especially between planar alignment and its disrupted phase, as actuated by a DC electrical field. In subjective terms, the sensation was described as a tacky to polished-like feeling. We attribute the mechanism of tactile contrast to microscale phase separation and changes in molecular orientation, as the nanoscale differences in topography are too small to be detected on their own by humans. This molecular rearrangement occurs quicker (<17 ms) than actuation through ionic or fluid movement. This enables a new class of tactile actuators based on molecular orientation (TAMO) for haptic interfaces.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_07968
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Transparent and Electrically Switchable Thin Film Tactile Actuators Based on Molecular Orientation
Nolin, Abigail
Lo, Chun-Yuan
Kayser, Laure V.
Dhong, Charles B.
Soft Condensed Matter
Applied Physics
Most tactile actuators create tactile sensations through vibrations or the mechanical and electrochemical formation of bumps. However, tactile sensations of real objects arise from friction which is derived not only from physical topography, but also surface chemistry. Here, we show that molecular rearrangement can be leveraged to create new classes of tactile actuators based on the phases of liquid crystals embedded in a solid and transparent polymer film. We found that humans can feel differences by touch, especially between planar alignment and its disrupted phase, as actuated by a DC electrical field. In subjective terms, the sensation was described as a tacky to polished-like feeling. We attribute the mechanism of tactile contrast to microscale phase separation and changes in molecular orientation, as the nanoscale differences in topography are too small to be detected on their own by humans. This molecular rearrangement occurs quicker (<17 ms) than actuation through ionic or fluid movement. This enables a new class of tactile actuators based on molecular orientation (TAMO) for haptic interfaces.
title Transparent and Electrically Switchable Thin Film Tactile Actuators Based on Molecular Orientation
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.07968