Graphene-Based Polymer Bilayers with Superior Light-Driven Properties for Remote Construction of 3D Structures

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• 3D structure assembly is crucial for advanced functional materials.
• Existing methods often require complex fabrication or external energy sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel strategy for autonomic 3D structure assembly using IR light-driven bilayer polymeric composites.
• To investigate the properties and applications of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and thermally expanding microsphere (TEM) incorporated composites.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of bilayer polymeric composites consisting of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and an active layer with RGOs and TEMs.
• Utilizing infrared (IR) light irradiation to induce photothermal effects and thermal expansion for bilayer deflection.
• Characterizing the light-driven bending properties and demonstrating 3D structure assembly.

Main Results:

• The RGO-TEM-PDMS/PDMS bilayers exhibited significant light-driven bending deformation and rapid response upon IR irradiation.
• The composites demonstrated controlled folding angles (0°–180°) for creating various 3D geometries like columns, boxes, and pyramids.
• The assembled 3D structures maintained their shapes permanently without continuous energy input.

Conclusions:

• The developed IR light-driven bilayer composites offer a versatile and simple approach for autonomic 3D structure assembly.
• This technology holds significant potential for applications in biomedical devices, aerospace, microfluidics, and 4D printing.