Soft robots are a kind of intelligent systems, which can achieve predetermined functions independently through its own deformation or under environmental stimuli. Unlike traditional robots based on rigid materials, soft robots exhibit distinct advantages such as non-invasive, highly integrated and holistic functionalized properties. Actuators based on soft materials have been widely investigated and introduced into robotic systems. However, at present, most soft robots can only realize simple and basic deformation, such as bending, rotating, vibration, and reconfiguration performances. In this regard, robots that possess multi-functionality and permit flexible manipulation are highly desired, especially for their potential applications in artificial intelligence. To bridge this gap, novel materials and effective fabrication technologies are thus becoming increasingly important.

- Journal of Semiconductors
- Vol. 40, Issue 12, 120401 (2019)
Abstract
As a well-known flexible 2D material, graphene has been successfully prepared by mechanical exfoliation in 2004. Afterwards, enormous works emerge extensively. Considerable studies have been focused on the controllable preparation of graphene and graphene-related materials, morphologies of which can be well tuned from micro to macro structures, such as quantum dots, nanosheets, nanoribbons, nanomeshes in microscopic and various macro-structures (fiber, ribbon, film, paper, foam)[
After the rapid progress of laser fabrication technique these years, laser fabrication becomes more developed and powerful. Especially, in the case of processing graphene-related materials, no matter the surface/interface properties or the physical/chemical properties of graphene can be well controlled. Problems with respect to the modification, patterning, structuring and integration in manufacturing graphene-based soft robots can be overcome with the help of laser fabrication. According to different working principles, laser fabrication strategies can be divided into different categories, such as laser direct writing, two-beam laser interference, laser lithography, and spatial light modulation processing[
Figure 1.(Color online) (a) Laser reduction of GO fiber. (b) Various predesigned GO actuators. (c) Graphene spider robot made by one-step laser scribing method. (d) The walking spider robot.
In summary, soft robots are still at an early stage and have a long way to go. Laser fabrication of graphene materials reveals great potential for developing graphene-based soft robotics. Graphene with tunable thermal/electronic conductivities, hierarchical structures and controllable surface morphologies has been successfully realized via laser processing. Various graphene actuators have been made in response to different stimuli such as humidity, light, heat and electricity, which will benefit robots with more functionality. We deem that graphene-based soft robots that can be applied in a wide range of scientific and industrial fields will be highly anticipated in the near future.
Acknowledgment
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under Grant Nos. #61935008, #61522503, #61590930, #61775078, and #61605055.
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