Self-evolving materials based on metastable-to-stable crystal transition of a polymorphic polyolefin

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Living organisms adapt through self-evolution; analogous self-evolving materials mimic this via non-equilibrium structural transformations.
• Current self-evolving materials primarily use solutions and hydrogels, with limited exploration in dry systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel principle for creating self-evolving dry materials.
• To utilize programmable crystal transitions in commercial polyolefins for material evolution.

Main Methods:

• Developed self-evolving materials from a commercial polymorphic polyolefin.
• Employed programmable crystal transition, encoding information in a metastable crystal phase.
• Utilized solvent-induced recrystallization to interrupt the evolution process.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated self-evolving materials encoding information in patterns and morphing.
• Showcased autonomous evolution of encoded information as the metastable phase transforms to a stable phase.
• Successfully fabricated an edible period indicator and mimicked human body language.

Conclusions:

• Proposed a new paradigm for self-evolving dry materials based on non-equilibrium processes.
• Highlighted the potential of programmable crystal transitions for dynamic material behavior.
• Suggested future research inspired by these self-evolving dry materials.