Controlled Mechanical Buckling for Origami‐Inspired Construction of 3D Microstructures in Advanced Materials

Abstract

Origami is a topic of rapidly growing interest in both the scientific and engineering research communities due to its promising potential in a broad range of applications. Previous assembly approaches of origami structures at the micro/nanoscale are constrained by the applicable classes of materials, topologies and/or capability of control over the transformation. Here, we introduce an approach that exploits controlled mechanical buckling for autonomic origami assembly of 3D structures across material classes from soft polymers to brittle inorganic semiconductors, and length scales from nanometers to centimeters. This approach relies on a spatial variation of thickness in the initial 2D structures as an effective strategy to produce engineered folding creases during the compressive buckling process. The elastic nature of the assembly scheme enables active, deterministic control over intermediate states in the 2D to 3D transformation in a continuous and reversible manner. Demonstrations include a broad set of 3D structures formed through unidirectional, bidirectional, and even hierarchical folding, with examples ranging from half cylindrical columns and fish scales, to cubic boxes, pyramids, starfish, paper fans, skew tooth structures, and to amusing system-level examples of soccer balls, model houses, cars, and multi-floor textured buildings.

Design and application of ‘J-shaped’ stress–strain behavior in stretchable electronics: a review

“…These deformation mechanisms result in ‘J-shaped’ stress-strain behavior 135 . Recently, Yan et al 136 proposed a strategy to produce engineered folding creases for microscale origami structures in polymer films, with ‘J-shaped’ stress-strain behaviors. Song et al 57 exploited an origami design with 45° Miura folding for applications in a lithium-ion battery that is highly deformable at different modes (e.g., stretching, folding, bending and twisting).…”

Graphene‐Based Polymer Bilayers with Superior Light‐Driven Properties for Remote Construction of 3D Structures

“…So far, many stimuli‐responsive polymers have been investigated and employed to fabricate 3D structures including hydrogels,9 shape memory polymers,10 thermoresponsive polymers,11 and gradient polymeric composites 12. Moreover, the frequently used external stimuli to trigger a shape change in stimuli‐responsive polymers include solvents,13 electricity,14 pneumatic stimulus,15 mechanical stimulus,16 heat,17 and light 18. Electrical stimuli allow sequential folding with high accuracy, but the structures must be wired to external controls.…”

Assembly and Self‐Assembly of Nanomembrane Materials—From 2D to 3D

“…Engineered variation in thickness was found to be able to guide folding deformation at specific locations and thus provided such capability . Simulation of the self‐assembly process proved that when the thickness ratio was relatively small (e.g., <1/3), the thick regions underwent negligible deformation while the thin ones accommodated the compression via folding, and the maximum strains occured at these regions (so‐called crease) . Reductions in the crease thickness and increases in the width can reduce the maximum strains in order to avoid fracture.…”