A5020326473- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Polymer composites and self-healing
- Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Geothermal Energy Systems and Applications
- Carbon dioxide utilization in catalysis
- Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications
- Advanced Polymer Synthesis and Characterization
- Adsorption and Cooling Systems
- Dielectric materials and actuators
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Phase Change Materials Research
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
Zhejiang University
2021-2025
State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering
2021-2025
Hangzhou Normal University
2023
Shenzhen University
2023
Ningbo University
2022
Hangzhou Xixi hospital
2021
Zhejiang University of Science and Technology
2021
Realization of muscle-like actuation for a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) requires mesogen alignment, which is typically achieved/fixed chemically during the synthesis. Post-synthesis regulation alignment in convenient and repeatable manner highly desirable yet challenging. Here, dual-phase LCE network designed synthesized with crystalline melting transition above transition. The phase can serve as an "alignment frame" to fix any mechanical deformation via shape memory mechanism, leading...
Abstract Self‐oscillation phenomena observed in nature serve as extraordinary inspiration for designing synthetic autonomous moving systems. Converting self‐oscillation into designable self‐sustained locomotion can lead to a new generation of soft robots that require minimal/no external control. However, such is typically constrained single mode dictated by the constant surrounding environment. In this study, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) robot capable achieving multimodal locomotion, with...
Abstract Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are actuatable under an electric field, whose large strain and fast response speed compare favorably with natural muscles. However, the actuation of DE‐based devices is generally limited to a single mode cannot be reconfigured after fabrication, which pales in comparison biological counterparts given ability alter modes according external conditions. To address this, liquid crystal dielectric (LC‐DEs) that can based on thermally triggered shape‐changing...
Abstract Dynamic regulation of substrate micro‐structures is an effective strategy to control stem cell fate in tissue engineering. Translating this into vivo repair a clinical setting remains challenging, which requires precise temporal multi‐scale structural features. Using 4D printing technique, multi‐responsive bilayer morphing membrane consisting shape memory polymer (SMP) layer and hydrogel layer, fabricated. The SMP featured with responsive surface micro‐structures, can switch the...
Encoding molecular ordering during liquid crystalline network (LCN) formation endows preprogrammed but fixed shape morphing in response to external stimuli. The incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds enables reprogramming also permanently alters the structures. Here, an entropic approach that can program complex shapes via directed solvent evaporation from isotropic LCN organogel is discoursed. Different be erased and reprogrammed same on demand depending modes deformation evaporation....
Living creatures possess complex geometries, exceptional adaptability, and continuous growing regenerating characteristics, which are difficult for synthetic materials to imitate simultaneously. A living polymer network with these features is reported. The can be digitally printed into arbitrary 3D shapes subsequently undergoes growth via polymerization of a monomer as the nutrient. This leads macroscopic dimensional transforms amorphous crystallizable network, resulting in geometric...
Tuning actuation temperatures of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) achieves control their onsets, which is generally accomplished in the synthesis step and cannot be altered afterward. Multiple onsets one LCE can encoded if post-synthesis regulation temperature spatiotemporally achieved. This would allow realizing a logical time-evolution actuation, desired for future soft robots. Nevertheless, this task challenging given additional need to ensure mesogen alignment required actuation. We...
Crosslinking of a crystalline network <italic>via</italic> metal ligand interactions gave rise to programmable actuation via reversible shape memory effect. Simultaneously, the metallo-bonds offer remote light powering capability using their photo-thermal ability.
Incorporating photothermal agents into thermoresponsive liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) offers remote and spatio-temporal control in actuation. Typically, both the light responsiveness actuation behaviors are fixed since agent doping mesogen alignment conducted before network formation. Here, we report an approach that enables programming photoresponsive LCEs after synthesis via force-directed evaporation. Different can be doped or removed by swelling fully cross-linked a specific...
Leveraging the rich stimuli-response of polymers represents a promising direction towards optical communication/encryption. Sign language, which relies on specific geometric change for secured communication, has been widely used same purpose since ancient time. We report strategy that combines both in validated manner with hydrogel not only carries encrypted information but also hidden behavior to morph geometrically. In particular, shape morphing is programmable by controlling oriented...
A unique thermally driven two-way shape memory polymer is reported through a dynamic covalent network design. Its actuation direction relative to the programming force reflected as cooling-induced contraction and heating-induced elongation.
Shape memory polymers (SMPs) show attractive prospects in emerging fields such as soft robots and biomedical devices. Although their typical trigger-responsive character offers the essential shape-changing controllability, having to access external stimulation is a major bottleneck toward many applications. Recently emerged autonomous SMPs exhibit unique stimuli-free shape-shifting behavior with its controllability achieved via delayed programmable recovery onset. Achieving multi-shape...
Mechanical stretching is commonly used for mesogen alignment which essential the muscle-like actuations of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). Despite simplicity method, mesogens are typically aligned in direction, limiting exclusively LCE to an actuation mode cooling-induced elongation. Here, we design interpenetrating double network consisting and elastomer network, with one polymerized stretched before polymerization other network. Depending on sequence two networks, shows opposite modes,...
Abstract Dynamic covalent bonds endow liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) with network rearrangeability, facilitating the fixation of mesogen alignment induced by external forces and enabling reversible actuation. In comparison, bond exchange supramolecular interactions is typically too significant to stably maintain programmed alignment, particularly under intensified stimuli. Nevertheless, remaking recycling interaction‐based polymer networks are more accessible than those based on dynamic...
Open AccessCCS ChemistryRESEARCH ARTICLES1 Mar 2024Ultratough Yet Dynamic Crystalline Poly(thiourethane) Network Directly from Low Viscosity Precursors Haijun Feng†, Yi Sheng†, Guancong Chen, Binjie Jin, Zizheng Fang, Bo Yang, Xiaorui Zhou, Wenxuan Wu, Tao Xie and Ning Zheng Feng† State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College Biological Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058 , Sheng† Chen Jin Fang Yang Zhou Wu Department Colorectal Surgery Oncology, Cancer Prevention Intervention,...
The critical problem restricting the development and application of phase change energy piles is that adding materials to concrete generally reduces its thermal conductivity. Therefore, exploring a scheme improve heat transfer performance necessary. In this study, steel fibers were added enhance exchange capacity between pile surrounding soil. model tests conducted on two types piles: fiber-reinforced pile. Based laboratory tests, three-dimensional thermo–hydro–mechanical coupled...
Abstract Dynamic covalent bonds endow liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) with network rearrangeability, facilitating the fixation of mesogen alignment induced by external forces and enabling reversible actuation. In comparison, bond exchange supramolecular interactions is typically too significant to stably maintain programmed alignment, particularly under intensified stimuli. Nevertheless, remaking recycling interaction‐based polymer networks are more accessible than those based on dynamic...
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) exhibit muscle-like actuation upon an external stimulus. To control this, various alignment programming strategies have been developed over the past decades. Among them, force-directed solvent evaporation, namely, that depends on applied force during is appreciated for its universality in material design and versatility attainable actuations. Here, we investigate influence of network topology a liquid (LC) organo-gel via varying feeding ratios monomers....
Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) exhibit notable shape-shifting behaviors under environmental stimulations. In a specific shape-memory cycle, the material can be temporarily fixed at diverse geometries while recovering to same permanent shape driven by elastic network, which somewhat limits versatility of SMPs. Via dynamic metallo-supramolecular interactions, herein, we report multi-functional polymer with tunable shapes. The network is constructed metallic coordination four-armed...