Advancing Robotic Materials and Devices Through Controlled Electric-Matter Interactions

Electric fields applied to particulate-dispersed aqueous solutions unveil a fascinating spectrum of interactions, categorized into electron transfer-driven chemical reactions and non-electron transfer-induced physical motions. These interactions pave the way for advancements in robotic materials and devices. In this talk, I will present our recent research on harnessing these effects to engineer robotic systems across a scale spanning from nanometers to decimeters. From nanoscale high-precision bioprobes capable of ultraprecision cell-signal sensing, to chip-scale microbubble actuators for assembling cell-nanosensor arrays for drug screening, and decimeter-scale disinfection devices for practical water treatment, our innovations highlight the important potential of manipulating electric-matter interactions for applications in biological, medicine, and environmental technologies.