Lili Chen

Tsinghua University | TH · Department of Chemistry

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with large actuation strain and high energy density are highly desirable for actuating soft robots. However, DEAs usually require high driving electric fields (>100 MV m⁻¹) to achieve high performances due to the low dielectric constant and high stiffness of dielectric elastomers (DEs). Here, we introduce polar...

Hyperelastic materials exhibit a nonlinear elastic response to large strains, whereas hydrogels typically possess a low elastic range due to the nonuniform cross-linking and limited chain segments among cross-links. We developed a hyperelastic hydrogel that possesses a broader elastic range by introducing a reversible pearl-necklace structure, in w...

Energy‐free thermal regulation is in great demand nowadays. Thermochromic materials are widely explored and used in smart windows. However, most thermochromic materials have fixed transition temperature and still suffer from poor stability. To overcome this challenge, a thermochromic polymer coating based on ion–dipole interaction with switchable t...

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are widely exploited for actuating soft machines and granting soft robots with capability to operate in both underwater and on-land environments is important to make them adapt to more complex situations. Here, we presenteded a DEA-driven, highly robust, amphibious imperceptible soft robot (AISR) based on an al...

Dynamic supramolecular networks are constantly accompanied by thermal instability. The fundamental reason is most reversible noncovalent bonds quickly decay at elevated temperatures and dissociate below 100 °C. Here, in this paper, we realize a reversible ion-dipole interaction with high-temperature stability exceeding 150 °C. The resultant supramo...

Ligaments are flexible and stiff tissues around joints to support body movements, showing superior toughness and fatigue-resistance. Such a combination of mechanical properties is rarely seen in synthetic elastomers because stretchability, stiffness, toughness, and fatigue resistance are seemingly incompatible in materials design. Here we resolve t...

Rapid underwater self‐healing elastomers with high mechanical strength at ambient temperature are highly desirable for dangerous underwater operations. However, current room temperature self‐healing materials have shortcomings, such as low healing strength (below megapascal), long healing time (hours), and decay of healing functions in harsh enviro...

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode for the next generation high-energy-density batteries. However, the growth of Li dendrites, low coulombic efficiency and dramatic volume change limit its development. Here, we report a new synthetic poly-dioxolane (PDOL) approach to constructing an artificial 'elastic' SEI to stabilize the Li/electrolyte inte...

Ionic conductors that combines transparency, elasticity and underwater self-healing capability are highly desirable because of their applications in biosensors, touch panel and marine ships, etc. Polymer materials based on ion-dipole interactions can meet these requirements. However, a key trade-off is their relatively weak mechanical properties be...

Conductive polymer-based hydrogels (CHs) have gained increasing attention as flexible electrode materials for making high-performance flexible supercapacitors (FSCs). However, the amorphous nature of current CHs severely limits their energy density and electrochemical stability, due to the structural damage of amorphous CHs at high operation voltag...