Folding Control of Hydrogel Platforms through Pattern Design and Light Illumination

Ergene E., LİMAN G., Yildiz E., HURİ P., DEMİREL G.

ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS, vol.3, no.7, pp.3272-3277, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 3 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/acsapm.1c00458
  • Journal Name: ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex
  • Page Numbers: pp.3272-3277
  • Keywords: foldable material, stimuli-responsive polymer, soft gripper, hydrogel, smart material, soft actuator
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Herein, we demonstrated a strategy to control the folding ability of hydrogel platforms through pattern design and light illumination. Hydrogel platforms, which consist of a temperature-responsive colored pattern, a temperature-responsive intermediate layer, and a passive (non-responsive) layer, were fabricated in molds with different geometries. Folding ability of the resulting films was manipulated by the light illumination, pattern design, and color. Furthermore, as a proof-of-concept, sample capturing from a target point was successfully demonstrated using the fabricated hydrogel platforms. These results show that our strategy may provide promising possibilities for the fabrication of the next-generation soft foldable materials.