Magnetically Actuated Adhesives with Switchable Adhesion

Abstract Smart adhesives with the ability to rapidly switch, achieve high adhesion tuning ratios, and provide precise control hold tremendous potential in various fields ranging from micromanipulation to manufacturing. Despite significant progress, an efficient and robust adhesive switch remains a rarity. In this study, a design strategy for magnetically actuated adhesives that exhibit switchable adhesion between high and low levels exceeding 50 times is proposed. The non‐contact actuation of the magnetic field induces a pre‐designed deformation of the magnetic tentacles, resulting in both interface cracks at the adhesion interface and a push force on the target object. Consequently, the pull‐off force can be precisely adjusted according to the strength of the magnetic field. This proposed adhesive also exhibits ultrafast detachment (<1.0 s). Tentative experiments are conducted for transfer‐print technology and on‐demand detachment, which demonstrate the advantages of magnetically actuated adhesives in a non‐contact manner. The proposed strategy of switching adhesion may be particularly useful for practical applications that require highly precise and swiftly controlled movements.