Adv Sci (Weinh) . 2022 Aug 17;e2202978. doi: 10.1002/advs.202202978. Online ahead of print.

Soft Microdenticles on Artificial Octopus Sucker Enable Extraordinary Adaptability and Wet Adhesion on Diverse Nonflat Surfaces

Gui Won Hwang, Heon Joon Lee, Da Wan Kim, Tae-Heon Yang, and Changhyun Pang

Abstract

Bioinspired soft devices, which possess high adaptability to targeted objects, provide promising solutions for a variety of industrial and medical applications. However, achieving stable and switchable attachment to objects with curved, rough, and irregular surfaces remains difficult, particularly in dry and underwater environments. Here, a highly adaptive soft microstructured switchable adhesion device is presented, which is inspired by the geometric and material characteristics of the tiny denticles on the surface of an octopus sucker. The contact interface of the artificial octopus sucker (AOS) is imprinted with soft, microscale denticles that interact adaptably with highly rough or curved surfaces. Robust and controllable attachment of the AOS with soft microdenticles (AOS-sm) to dry and wet surfaces with diverse morphologies is achieved, allowing conformal attachment on curved and soft objects with high roughness. In addition, AOS-sms assembled with an octopus-arm-inspired soft actuator demonstrate reliable grasping and the transport of complex polyhedrons, rough objects, and soft, delicate, slippery biological samples.