Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Inertia-Dilatancy Interplay Governs Shear Thickening Drop Impact.

Physical review letters·2026

Same author

The Effect of Nanoparticle Shape, Orientation, and Heterogeneity on the Optical Birefringence of Polymer Nanocomposites.

The journal of physical chemistry. C, Nanomaterials and interfaces·2026

Same author

Effect of Monomer Polarity on Polymer Dynamics, Glass Transition, and Ionic Conductivity of Polyether Electrolytes.

Macromolecules·2026

Same author

Emergent clusters in strongly confined systems.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026

Same author

Non-cytotoxic, iodinated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block-<i>co</i>-polymer contrast agents for computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Journal of materials chemistry. B·2026

Same author

Unveiling Hydrogen Coverage on Ru Nanoparticles Through Modeling and Experiments.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Photoswitchable Cross-Linking in Polymer Gels: Effects on Surface Creasing and Network Relaxation during Swelling.

Alyssa VanZanten¹, Surbhi Punhani-Schillinger¹, M Reed Blocksome¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States.

|April 20, 2026

Summary

Photoresponsive polymer gels with tunable mechanics were created using dynamic coumarin cross-links. Light-specific UV irradiation modulated gel properties, enabling programmable materials for advanced applications.

More Related Videos

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

In situ Photo-rheology Monitors Viscoelastic Changes in Photo-responsive Polymer Networks

In situ Photo-rheology Monitors Viscoelastic Changes in Photo-responsive Polymer Networks

Published on: June 20, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Preparation of DNA-crosslinked Polyacrylamide Hydrogels

Published on: August 27, 2014

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

In situ Photo-rheology Monitors Viscoelastic Changes in Photo-responsive Polymer Networks

In situ Photo-rheology Monitors Viscoelastic Changes in Photo-responsive Polymer Networks

Published on: June 20, 2025

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Polymer Chemistry
Photochemistry

Background:

Photoresponsive polymer gels offer tunable properties for adaptive materials.
Previous research on coumarin-linked gels primarily examined dilute solutions, leaving network-level mechanical responses unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and investigate polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels with both permanent and dynamic coumarin cross-links.
To explore the in situ modulation of hydrogel cross-linking and mechanical properties using wavelength-specific UV light.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of PEG hydrogels incorporating permanent covalent and dynamic coumarin cross-links.
Utilized real-time Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) for mechanical characterization.
Employed surface imaging techniques to analyze morphological changes.

Main Results:

Postcure irradiation at 365 nm UV light induced rapid coumarin dimerization, increasing storage modulus by up to 69%.
Cleavage of coumarin cross-links using 254 nm UV light showed limited effects in bulk samples due to light attenuation.
Dynamic cross-linking was identified as a key factor in controlling swelling-induced crease formation and evolution on the gel surface.

Conclusions:

Established design principles for hydrogels with programmable mechanics and adaptive surface topographies.
Demonstrated the potential for light-addressable coatings, mechanically lockable soft actuators, and dynamic biomaterial interfaces.