Stimuli‐Responsive Materials: Wirelessly Actuated Thermo‐ and Magneto‐Responsive Soft Bimorph Materials with Programmable Shape‐Morphing (Adv. Mater. 30/2021)

Jiachen Zhang; Yubing Guo; Wenqi Hu; Metin Sitti

doi:10.1002/adma.202170238

Robotic surfaces with reversible, spatiotemporal control for shape morphing and object manipulation

Science Robotics ◽

10.1126/scirobotics.abf5116 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (53) ◽

pp. eabf5116

Author(s):

Ke Liu ◽

Felix Hacker ◽

Chiara Daraio

Keyword(s):

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Mechanical Stiffness ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Shape Morphing ◽

Deformation Response ◽

Control Scheme ◽

Out Of Plane ◽

Passive Network ◽

Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽

Layered Design

Continuous and controlled shape morphing is essential for soft machines to conform, grasp, and move while interacting safely with their surroundings. Shape morphing can be achieved with two-dimensional (2D) sheets that reconfigure into target 3D geometries, for example, using stimuli-responsive materials. However, most existing solutions lack the ability to reprogram their shape, face limitations on attainable geometries, or have insufficient mechanical stiffness to manipulate objects. Here, we develop a soft, robotic surface that allows for large, reprogrammable, and pliable shape morphing into smooth 3D geometries. The robotic surface consists of a layered design composed of two active networks serving as artificial muscles, one passive network serving as a skeleton, and cover scales serving as an artificial skin. The active network consists of a grid of strips made of heat-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) containing stretchable heating coils. The magnitude and speed of contraction of the LCEs can be controlled by varying the input electric currents. The 1D contraction of the LCE strips activates in-plane and out-of-plane deformations; these deformations are both necessary to transform a flat surface into arbitrary 3D geometries. We characterize the fundamental deformation response of the layers and derive a control scheme for actuation. We demonstrate that the robotic surface provides sufficient mechanical stiffness and stability to manipulate other objects. This approach has potential to address the needs of a range of applications beyond shape changes, such as human-robot interactions and reconfigurable electronics.

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Multi-Functional 3D Curvilinear Self-Folding of Glassy Polymers

Volume 1: Additive Manufacturing; Advanced Materials Manufacturing; Biomanufacturing; Life Cycle Engineering; Manufacturing Equipment and Automation ◽

10.1115/msec2020-8407 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jae Gyeong Lee ◽

Sukyoung Won ◽

Jeong Eun Park ◽

Jeong Jae Wie

Keyword(s):

Light Absorption ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Strain Engineering ◽

Local Deformation ◽

Glassy Polymers ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Shape Morphing ◽

Curvilinear Structures ◽

External Stimuli

Abstract The selective light absorption of pre-stretched thermoplastic polymeric films enables wireless photothermal shape morphing from two-dimensional Euclidean geometry of films to three-dimensional (3D) curvilinear architectures. For a facile origami-inspired programming of 3D folding, black inks are printed on glassy polymers that are used as hinges to generate light-absorption patterns. However, the deformation of unpatterned areas and/or stress convolution of patterned areas hinder the creation of accurate curvilinear structures. In addition, black inks remain in the film, prohibiting the construction of transparent 3D architectures. In this study, we demonstrate the facile preparation of transparent 3D curvilinear structures with the selection of the curvature sign and chirality via the selective light absorption of detachable tapes. The sequential removal of adhesive patterns allowed sequential folding and the control of strain responsivity in a single transparent architecture. The introduction of multiple heterogeneous non-responsive materials increased the complexity of strain engineering and functionality. External stimuli responsive kirigami-based bridge triggered the multi-material frame to build the Gaussian curvature. Conductive material casted on the film in a pattern retained the conductivity, despite local deformation. This type of tape patterning system, adopting various materials, can achieve multifunction including transparency and conductivity.

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Smart Polymers and their Applications: A Review

International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Review and Research ◽

10.25258/ijcprr.v8i03.9220 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Gore S. A. ◽

Gholve S. B. ◽

Savalsure S. M. ◽

Ghodake K. B. ◽

Bhusnure O. G. ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oil Recovery ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Solution Temperature ◽

Smart Polymers ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Water Soluble Polymers ◽

Commercial Applications ◽

Stimuli Sensitive ◽

External Stimuli

Smart polymers are materials that respond to small external stimuli. These are also referred as stimuli responsive materials or intelligent materials. Smart polymers that can exhibit stimuli-sensitive properties are becoming important in many commercial applications. These polymers can change shape, strength and pore size based on external factors such as temperature, pH and stress. The stimuli include salt, UV irradiation, temperature, pH, magnetic or electric field, ionic factors etc. Smart polymers are very promising applicants in drug delivery, tissue engineering, cell culture, gene carriers, textile engineering, oil recovery, radioactive wastage and protein purification. The study is focused on the entire features of smart polymers and their most recent and relevant applications. Water soluble polymers with tunable lower critical solution temperature (LCST) are of increasing interest for biological applications such as cell patterning, smart drug release, DNA sequencing etc.

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Sensitive Mechanocontrolled Luminescence in Cross-Linked Polymer Films

10.26434/chemrxiv.9943943.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ayumu Karimata ◽

Pradnya Patil ◽

Eugene Khaskin ◽

Sébastien Lapointe ◽

robert fayzullin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Stress ◽

Polymer Films ◽

Soft Matter ◽

Small Strain ◽

Visual Methods ◽

Photoluminescence Intensity ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Mechanical Stretching

Direct translation of mechanical force into changes in chemical behavior on a molecular level has important implication not only for the fundamental understanding of mechanochemical processes, but also for the development of new stimuli-responsive materials. In particular, detection of mechanical stress in polymers via non-destructive methods is important in order to prevent material failure and to study the mechanical properties of soft matter. Herein, we report that highly sensitive changes in photoluminescence intensity can be observed in response to the mechanical stretching of cross-linked polymer films when using stable, (pyridinophane)Cu-based dynamic mechanophores. Upon stretching, the luminescence intensity increases in a fast and reversible manner even at small strain (< 50%) and applied stress (< 0.1 MPa) values. Such sensitivity is unprecedented when compared to previously reported systems based on organic mechanophores. The system also allows for the detection of weak mechanical stress by spectroscopic measurements or by direct visual methods.<br>

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Redox-State Dependent Spectroscopic Properties of Porous Organic Polymers Containing Furan, Thiophene, and Selenophene

Australian Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1071/ch17335 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 70 (11) ◽

pp. 1227 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Carol Hua ◽

Stone Woo ◽

Aditya Rawal ◽

Floriana Tuna ◽

James M. Hook ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solid State ◽

Redox State ◽

Spectroscopic Properties ◽

Structural Features ◽

Organic Polymers ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Porous Organic Polymers ◽

Paramagnetic Resonance ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

State Dependent

A series of electroactive triarylamine porous organic polymers (POPs) with furan, thiophene, and selenophene (POP-O, POP-S, and POP-Se) linkers have been synthesised and their electronic and spectroscopic properties investigated as a function of redox state. Solid state NMR provided insight into the structural features of the POPs, while in situ solid state Vis-NIR and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemistry showed that the distinct redox states in POP-S could be reversibly accessed. The development of redox-active porous organic polymers with heterocyclic linkers affords their potential application as stimuli responsive materials in gas storage, catalysis, and as electrochromic materials.

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Shape memory polymer network with thermally distinct elasticity and plasticity

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.1501297 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. e1501297 ◽

Cited By ~ 232

Author(s):

Qian Zhao ◽

Weike Zou ◽

Yingwu Luo ◽

Tao Xie

Keyword(s):

Shape Memory ◽

Molecular Design ◽

Shape Change ◽

Shape Memory Polymer ◽

Polymer Network ◽

Stimuli Responsive ◽

Responsive Materials ◽

Device Applications ◽

Temperature Ranges ◽

Rational Molecular Design

Stimuli-responsive materials with sophisticated yet controllable shape-changing behaviors are highly desirable for real-world device applications. Among various shape-changing materials, the elastic nature of shape memory polymers allows fixation of temporary shapes that can recover on demand, whereas polymers with exchangeable bonds can undergo permanent shape change via plasticity. We integrate the elasticity and plasticity into a single polymer network. Rational molecular design allows these two opposite behaviors to be realized at different temperature ranges without any overlap. By exploring the cumulative nature of the plasticity, we demonstrate easy manipulation of highly complex shapes that is otherwise extremely challenging. The dynamic shape-changing behavior paves a new way for fabricating geometrically complex multifunctional devices.

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