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<p>Hygromorphic plant structures exchange water with the environment by diverse mechanisms to induce movement, inspiring passively driven robotic solutions. Upon exposure to water, hygroscopic cellulose reversibly binds (immobilises) water, leading to volumetric expansion. However, the contribution of free water transport in the capillaries of anisotropic cellulose structures in providing fast local swelling remains elusive. We factored free and bound water kinetics in an <i>Erodium cicutarium</i> awn exposed to water aerosol. Light backscattering and ballistic transmission in awn cross-section indicated free water content, aligned with awn uncoiling that indicated bound water content. After stopping the water influx, the rearrangement of highly mobile free water continued for twelve seconds, resulting in a temporally shifted and non-linear response. Insight into internal water rearrangement kinetics in awns allows the design of more efficient anisotropic robotic systems that actuate and change stiffness by combining internal liquid displacement and liquid exchange with the environment.</p>

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Reflectometry of free water transport in the oriented capillaries of Erodium cicutarium seed awns: insights for hygromorph design

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月8日

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  • Yauheni Sarokin,
  • Alvo Aabloo,
  • Indrek Must

摘要

Hygromorphic plant structures exchange water with the environment by diverse mechanisms to induce movement, inspiring passively driven robotic solutions. Upon exposure to water, hygroscopic cellulose reversibly binds (immobilises) water, leading to volumetric expansion. However, the contribution of free water transport in the capillaries of anisotropic cellulose structures in providing fast local swelling remains elusive. We factored free and bound water kinetics in an Erodium cicutarium awn exposed to water aerosol. Light backscattering and ballistic transmission in awn cross-section indicated free water content, aligned with awn uncoiling that indicated bound water content. After stopping the water influx, the rearrangement of highly mobile free water continued for twelve seconds, resulting in a temporally shifted and non-linear response. Insight into internal water rearrangement kinetics in awns allows the design of more efficient anisotropic robotic systems that actuate and change stiffness by combining internal liquid displacement and liquid exchange with the environment.