Supramolecular Assembly of Shape Memory and Actuating Hydrogels for Programmable Shape Transformation.
Jie Zhuo1,2, Baoyi Wu1,2, Jiawei Zhang1,2
1Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 6, 2022
Summary
Researchers developed a dual programming method for gelatin hydrogels, enabling complex shape changes for bionic actuators. This technique allows for reversible, diverse deformations, advancing soft robotics and bionics applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Soft Robotics
- Bionics
Background:
- Nature's diverse organisms inspire bionic hydrogel actuators.
- Current anisotropic hydrogel actuators have fixed structures, limiting shape deformation complexity.
- Existing hydrogel actuators struggle to achieve diverse and complex shape changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a dual programming method for creating tunable anisotropic structures from isotropic hydrogels.
- To enable complex and diverse shape deformations in hydrogel actuators.
- To enhance the application potential of hydrogel actuators in soft robotics and bionics.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing the coil-triple helix transition of gelatin to assemble isotropic hydrogel blocks into anisotropic structures.
- Fixing assembled hydrogels into temporary anisotropies for controlled shape programming.
- Stimulating the hydrogels with pH to induce complex shape deformations.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated numerous anisotropic structures from isotropic gelatin hydrogels.
- Achieved complex and diverse shape deformations in hydrogel actuators.
- Demonstrated reversible shape programming and deformation behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The dual programming method allows for tunable anisotropic structures in hydrogel actuators.
- This approach significantly expands the possibilities for complex deformations in hydrogel actuators.
- The developed method holds great promise for advancing soft robotics and bionic applications.
