Post by Seoul National University College of Engineering (서울대학교 공과대학)

🧲🤖 SNU Researchers Develop Dual-Mode Magnetic Elastomer Move on Command, Vanish on Demand ⚡   A research team led by Prof. Seung-Kyun Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Seoul National University has developed a dual-mode magnetic elastomer that can both actuate and self-degrade using magnetic fields.   📄 Published in Advanced Functional Materials   🔍 What makes it different? Conventional soft robots and smart devices often require separate systems for operation and degradation, making them difficult to use in confined or inaccessible environments. The SNU team developed a single material platform using: 🧲 Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles embedded in a silicone elastomer ⚡ DC magnetic field → motion and shape transformation 🔥 GHz-range AC magnetic field → rapid heating and self-degradation   💡 Key innovation Instead of relying on separate control mechanisms, the material: ✅ Moves on demand through magnetic actuation ✅ Heats above 200°C within 1 second under AC magnetic fields ✅ Rapidly degrades without external heating or light ✅ Maintains high flexibility with over 460% elongation   🚀 Potential applications 🤖 Mission-completing soft robots 🔍 Exploration robots that do not require retrieval 🔒 Secure electronics that eliminate physical traces after use   🗣 Prof. Kang stated, "By controlling both motion and end-of-life behavior using magnetic fields, this platform could enable next-generation soft robots and secure electronic devices for environments where retrieval is difficult."   ✨ Toward smarter, safer, and self-disappearing robotic systems.   📌 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gwjPF2Dx 📌 DOI: https://lnkd.in/ge9wzUuy   #SeoulNationalUniversity #SNUEngineering #SNUResearch #DualModeMagneticElastomer #SiliconeElastomer #SoftRobotics #SmartMaterials #AdvancedFunctionalMaterials

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