Organohydrogel Actuators with Adjustable Stimulus Responsiveness for On-Demand Morphing
Danyang Li1,2, Xiaoxia Le2,3, Shuxin Wei2,3
1College of Materials Science & Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 17, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel organohydrogel actuator with adjustable stimulus responsiveness. This material can be controlled by heat or near-infrared light, offering on-demand shape morphing for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Soft Robotics
Background:
- Hydrogel actuators are crucial for soft robots and artificial muscles.
- Current hydrogel actuators often lack adjustable stimulus responsiveness for precise control.
- On-demand actuation is needed for sophisticated applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create an organohydrogel actuator with tunable stimulus responsiveness.
- To enable on-demand shape morphing using multiple stimuli.
- To explore novel materials for advanced actuator designs.
Main Methods:
- A two-step interpenetrating polymerization method was employed.
- Organohydrogels composed of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-4-(2-sulfoethyl)-1-(4-vinylbenzyl) pyridinium betaine) (p(NIPAM-SVBP)) and poly(lauryl methacrylate) (pLMA) were synthesized.
- Gradient distribution of hydrophilic and hydrophobic networks was achieved.
Main Results:
- The organohydrogel actuator exhibited global actuation under thermal stimulation.
- The incorporation of SVBP enabled alkali-chromic properties, allowing photothermal actuation with near-infrared (NIR) light.
- Reversibility was demonstrated, with the actuator returning to its original state upon acid treatment.
Conclusions:
- A novel organohydrogel actuator with adjustable, multi-stimulus responsiveness was successfully fabricated.
- The material demonstrates potential for on-demand shape morphing applications.
- This work offers new strategies for designing smart actuators.
