Abstract Remote control and targeted activation are the elevated goals for shape-memory and self-healing polymers when responses to stimuli. Among so many stimuli, converting light into microstructure change or mechanical motions is now of particular interest. Herein, we report the ingenious design, synthesis and operation to advanced materials that capable of fast near-infrared (NIR) light-actuated targeted shape memory and remote accurately self-healing. Starting from biomass resources, a well-defined polymer nanocomposite, CNTs-graft-poly(tetrahydrofurfury methacryla-co-lauryl acrylate-co-1-vinylimidazole) copolymer ((CNTs-g-P(TMA-co-LA-co-VI)), was fabricated by addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. After subsequent metal-ligand crosslinking with Zn2+ ion, CNTs-g-P(TMA-co-LA-co-VI)/Zn2+ with CNTs content of 1.1 wt % have a maximum stress of 1.68 MPa and an elongation at break of 450%. Most importantly, the photothermal conversion of CNTs can effectively trigger the association and dissociation process of the dynamic metallosupramolecular crosslinked bond between VI and Zn2+, leading to excellent instantaneous multiple shape memory and accurate self-healing performance under NIR light or heat. This approach can be generalized toward de novo design of self-healing and shape memory nanocomposites with tunable mechanical properties.
Abstract With the structure design and muscle-like actuators, soft robots have been extensively studied for various application potentials in rescue exploration, medical rehabilitation, military reconnaissance etc. It is highly desirable yet challenging to develop fast 3D-assembly, multifunctional and self-healing soft robots to adapt to rapid changing environments. Inspired by multi-bit screwdriver, we address this challenge using a self-healing light-driven shape memory polymer via photo-weldi...
Last. Xuejuan Wan(SZU: Shenzhen University)H-Index: 22
view all 3 authors...
Conductive elastomeric composites exhibit a great research potential in the intelligent materials and devices owing to their excellent mechanical and electrical properties. Herein, we reported a ca...
Abstract To endow thermoset shape memory polymers with self-healing and recyclable functionalities is highly desirable. In this study, we fabricated Diels-Alder crosslinked polyurethane/functionalized reduced graphene oxide composites (DAPU-FRGOs) through in situ polymerization. The incorporated FRGO with urethane chains could achieve good compatibility with the DAPU matrix, forming physical and chemical crosslinking structures in the composite. And the most effective improvements of mechanical,...
Abstract Flexible and wearable electronics as candidates for the next-generation electric devices have attracted wide attention and been actively investigated recently. A remote, fast and efficient self-healable stretchable polyurethane nanocomposite for the substrate of flexible wearable electronics is reported in this paper. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were embedded in a self-healing polyurethane based on disulfide bonds. The tensile strength at break of the composites was improved significantly f...
Last. Xin Chen(Xi'an Jiaotong University)H-Index: 20
view all 7 authors...
Abstract Shape memory polymers and self-healing polymers are two types of smart materials, which have great application potential in various fields. In this study, a composite with light-induced shape memory effect, solid-state plasticity and self-healing performance was prepared by incorporating graphene oxide (GO) into a thermoset polyurethane. Based on the great photothermal effect of GO, this composite exhibited excellent light-induced shape memory properties with shape recovery ratio over 9...
#1Yu-Mi Ha(Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)H-Index: 10
#2Young-O Kim(KIST: Korea Institute of Science and Technology)H-Index: 10
Last. Yong Chae Jung(KIST: Korea Institute of Science and Technology)H-Index: 27
view all 10 authors...
Abstract In this study, boron-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were synthesized by high-temperature heat treatment (1300 °C) with a boric acid precursor and SWCNTs instead of the conventional chemical doping process. Then, these boron-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (B-SWCNTs) were added to polyurethane to prepare polyurethane nanocomposites having excellent thermal and mechanical properties. Changes in properties that occurred due to structural changes inside the composite wer...
Last. Joseph B. Tracy(NCSU: North Carolina State University)H-Index: 30
view all 5 authors...
New materials are advancing the field of soft robotics. Composite films of magnetic iron microparticles dispersed in a shape memory polymer matrix are demonstrated for reconfigurable, remotely actuated soft robots. The composite films simultaneously respond to magnetic fields and light. Temporary shapes obtained through combined magnetic actuation and photothermal heating can be locked by switching off the light and magnetic field. Subsequent illumination in the absence of the magnetic field dri...
Last. Xiong Lu(Southwest Jiaotong University)H-Index: 47
view all 9 authors...
Tough and conductive hydrogels are the promising materials for various applications. However, fabrication of these hydrogels at room or low temperatures, without external stimuli, is a challenge. Herein, a novel dual self-catalytic system composed of a variety of metal ions and catechol-based molecules was developed to efficiently trigger the free-radical polymerization of tough, conductive, transparent, and self-healing hydrogels at low temperature without any external stimuli. Ferric ions (Fe3...
Last. Jinsong Leng(HIT: Harbin Institute of Technology)H-Index: 66
view all 4 authors...
Intelligent material shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites are capable of memorizing and recovering the original shape upon exposure to a particular external stimulus. This paper presents the mechanical properties, thermomechanical behaviour and the shape memory characteristics of 0/90 woven carbon fibre reinforced shape memory composite. The results revealed that the superlative mechanical properties of carbon fibres as a reinforcement has enhanced the strength of the SMP composite ...
Last. Qiang Zheng(ZJU: Zhejiang University)H-Index: 56
view all 5 authors...
Self-shaping hydrogels have received increasing attention due to their promising applications in soft robotics and biomedical fields. Here we report the fabrication of photo- and thermo-responsive composite hydrogels with heterogeneous structures and corresponding programmed deformations under stimulation. These composite gels were developed by photolithographic polymerization to form patterned non-responsive polyacrylamide gels and then thermal polymerization to form responsive poly(N-isopropyl...