Light-Driven Shape Morphing, Assembly, and Motion of Nanocomposite Gel Surfers

Hyunki Kim, Ji Hwan Kang, Ying Zhou, Alexa S. Kuenstler, Yongjin Kim, Chao Chen, Todd Emrick, Ryan C. Hayward

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Patterning of nanoparticles (NPs) via photochemical reduction within thermally responsive hydrogel films is demonstrated as a versatile platform for programming light-driven shape morphing and materials assembly. Responsive hydrogel disks, containing patterned metal NPs, form characteristic wrinkled structures when illuminated at an air/water interface. The resulting distortion of the three-phase (air/water/hydrogel) contact lines induces capillary interactions between two or more disks, which are either attractive or repulsive depending on the selected pattern of light. By programming the shapes of the NP-rich regions, as well as of the hydrogel objects themselves, the number and location of attractive interactions are specified, and the assembly geometry is controlled. Remarkably, appropriately patterned illumination enables sustained rotation and motion of the hydrogel disks. Overall, these results offer insight into a wide variety of shape-programmable materials and capillary assemblies, simply by controlling the NP patterns and illumination of these soft materials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number1900932
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume31
Issue number27
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • capillary assembly
  • light-responsive materials
  • nanoparticle patterning
  • shape-morphing hydrogels
  • sustained motion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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