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App-Free Method for Visualization of Polymers in 3D and Augmented Reality
Hootan Roshandel1, Matthew Shammami1, Shiyun Lin1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
Journal of Chemical Education
|May 15, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a new workflow for creating interactive 3D and augmented reality (AR) models of polymers. These accessible polymer visualizations can be easily shared online, enhancing chemical education.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Science
- Computational Chemistry
- Chemical Education
Background:
- Online tools for visualizing small molecules and biological systems are abundant.
- Accessible 3D and augmented reality (AR) visualization tools for polymers are lacking due to data limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and present a workflow for generating 3D and AR models of polymers.
- To enable accessible visualization of polymer structures for educational and research purposes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized molecular dynamics simulations to generate polymer structures.
- Employed Blender software for 3D model creation.
- Hosted 3D models on p3d.in for automatic AR generation and sharing via QR codes.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated 3D models for sample polymers.
- Enabled automatic AR model creation from hosted 3D structures.
- Facilitated easy sharing and access to polymer visualizations without requiring application downloads.
Conclusions:
- The presented workflow effectively addresses the lack of accessible 3D visualization tools for polymers.
- The developed method enhances the potential for using interactive 3D and AR models in polymer science education and research.
