Rugged Soft Robots using Tough, Stretchable, and Self?Healable Adhesive Elastomers

Soft robots are susceptible to premature failure from physical damages incurred within dynamic environments. To address this, we report an elastomer with high toughness, room temperature self-healing, and strong adhesiveness, allowing both prevention of recovery for soft robotics. By functionalizing polyurethane hierarchical hydrogen bonds ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) carboxyl groups, toughness (74.85 MJ m?3), tensile strength (9.44 MPa), strain (2340%) can be achieved. Furthermore, solvent-assisted self-healing at enables retention (41.74 (5.57 (1865%) only 12 h. The possesses a dielectric constant (?9) that favors its utilization as actuator (DEA) Displaying area strains ?31.4% ?19.3% after mechanical electrical respectively, the best performing self-healable DEA is With abundant bonds, adhesive without additional curing or heating also realized. Having actuation properties, “stick-on” strategy assembly robust realized, robotic components easily reassembled replaced upon severe damage. This study highlights potential extreme ruggedness different operating conditions.