Microscopic Self-Folding Origami Created by Researchers—What's the Purpose?

Cornell University researchers have created microscale origami machines that fold themselves using chemical reactions, Phys.org reports.

This development could result in the production of a new fleet of tiny autonomous devices capable of responding quickly to their chemical surroundings.

The team, led by Nicholas Abbott, a Tisch University Professor in the Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, discovered a way to harness kinetic energy to power micro-origami machines that do not require liquids.

The method could allow the devices to work even in dry settings and at room temperature.

A Look Into the Study

Prior efforts on the study, according to the researchers, relied on chemical reactions that could only occur in extreme settings, such as at temperatures of several hundred degrees Celsius.

The responses were frequently delayed, sometimes taking up to 10 minutes, making the method unsuitable for ordinary technology applications.

However, Abbott's team discovered a flaw by reviewing data from a catalysis experiment. They observed that a small part of the chemical reaction pathway had both slow and quick phases.

They could use the chemical reaction's rapid kinetic moment by selectively extracting the quick stages.

Using the Right Material

The team needed the right material platform to capitalize on that rapid kinetic moment, so they sought assistance from Paul McEuen and Itai Cohen, physics professors at Cornell University who had previously collaborated with David Muller, an engineering professor, to develop ultrathin platinum sheets capped with titanium.

The researchers then took advantage of the time when oxygen quickly takes hydrogen from the atomically thin material, causing it to distort and bend like a hinge. The system can function at 20 degrees Celsius and actuate at 600 milliseconds each cycle.

What the Research Means

In simple terms, the team of researchers has developed a new technique that can make materials move and respond independently without any external help.

They achieved this by creating a chemically driven actuator that can convert fuel into a useful mechanical motion. The technique is quite generalizable, which means it can be applied to many types of reactions involving various chemical species.

The researchers have identified carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia as potential fuel sources for these actuators. They also plan to extend this technique to other catalytic metals, such as palladium and palladium gold alloys.

Ultimately, this work could lead to the development of autonomous materials that can control their own movement and computation without needing external control systems.

In Other News

Korea Times reports that KT, a South Korean telecommunications company, has announced the launch of two new service robots based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

These robots are designed to assist restaurants in easing their operational burden, providing better service to customers, and reducing human interaction during the pandemic.

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