Investment micro-casting 3D-printed multi-metamaterial for programmable multimodal biomimetic electronics
Chunjiang Wang, Xiaoming Chen, Qihang Song, Jianxu Shi, Mengyong Lei, Duo Ma, Xiangming Li, Xiaoliang Chen, Hongmiao Tian, Chunhui Wang, Jie Zhang, Yang Lü, Jinyou Shao
Abstract
Biometric electronics have gained considerable attention in self-sensing, three-dimensional (3D) designs, mechanical drive, and multi-function integration. By leveraging these anisotropic capabilities into devices, metamaterial offers a promising pathway to exciting performance-oriented units. However, such distinctive mismatches in forming processes and inherent material properties are severely restricted in achieving cross-scaled microstructures, causing compatibility issues among well-defined bio-functions and fabrication. Herein, we propose an investment micro-casting 3D printing strategy for custom-molding multi-metamaterials without process barriers. This approach handles the bottlenecks of the hierarchical template replacement in ultra-hydrophobicity microchannels for the free assembly of more than 20 types of challenging-to-form materials. A series of piezoelectric metamaterials are programmed with broadband ranges, imitating nerve distribution that has human-feel touch, bending, and recognition. Our work benefits the stiffness self-perception in dynamic grabbing manipulation, broadening the application of multimodal electronics in bio-embodied robots.