Encoding kirigami bi-materials to morph on target in response to temperature

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Soft Robotics

Background:

• Shape morphing is crucial for applications in engineering and architecture.
• Current methods rely on active, field-responsive materials requiring complex synthesis.
• These active materials' shape-changing ability is tied to their intrinsic structure and mechanochemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate shape morphing using passive, off-the-shelf materials.
• To develop a framework for orchestrating bi-material units for temperature-induced shape changes.
• To reduce reliance on material chemistry for programmable shape morphing.

Main Methods:

• Topological arrangement of passive solids (wood and silicone rubber) into a kirigami bi-material.
• Utilizing temperature as the environmental stimulus for shape transformation.
• Developing a framework for optimal orchestration of bi-material units.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated reversible shape morphing in a wood-silicone kirigami bi-material.
• Achieved target shape-matching through collective deployment of bi-material units.
• Showcased the ability to create complex periodic and aperiodic shapes.

Conclusions:

• Passive materials can be engineered for programmable shape morphing.
• Kirigami bi-materials offer a geometry- and mechanics-driven approach to shape change.
• This method reduces the dependence on advanced material synthesis and chemical manipulation.