Evaluation of driving characteristics of microgel actuator driven by light irradiation

Abstract

In this paper, we drive gel actuator by light irradiation and evaluate response speed and integrate gel actuator. In this study, we used Cr as a light absorber on a glass substrate and temperature responsive gel PNIPPAm as an actuator. We compared gel actuator driven by microheater with gel actuator driven by light irradiation. As the result of driving characteristics evaluation, gel actuator driven by microheater and light irradiation have same characteristics. Thus, light driven gel actuators can be integrated in shorter distances than microheater driven gel actuators.