Light-regulated growth from dynamic swollen substrates for making rough surfaces

Xue, Lulu; Xiong, Xinhong; Krishnan, Baiju P.; Puza, Fatih; Wang, Sheng; Zheng, Yijun; Cui, Jiaxi

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14807-x

Cited by 44 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Recently, attempts replicating nature‐inspired growth have been dedicated to creating spatiotemporal features with arbitrary topologies based on mass transport phenomena. [ 23–30 ] For instance, Cui et al. reported a photo‐induction strategy to regulate the localized growth of microstructures from swollen substrates, in which three types of reactions—photolysis, photopolymerization, and transesterification—can be triggered to guide the transport of monomers trapped in a substrate to elongate a polymer.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micropatterns Fabricated by Photodimerization‐Induced Diffusion

et al. 2021

Advanced Materials

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Pattern technology plays an important role in the generation of microstructures with different functionalities and morphologies. In this report, a straightforward and versatile strategy is presented for spatially regulating the growth of a microstructure on a surface by the photodimerization of maleimide (MI). Upon exposure of ultraviolet (UV) light, photodimerization of MI in a film comprising furan‐grafted polymer and bismaleimide (BMI) produces a chemical gradient, which can drive the diffusion of BMI from the unexposed to the exposed region and from the bottom to the surface, resulting in the growth of micropatterns. Sequential crosslinking induced by the Diels–Alder reaction between MI and furan maintains the stability of pattern shape. Theoretical modeling with reaction‐diffusion equations reveal that as photodimerization moves the system far from thermodynamic equilibrium, the formation of a chemical potential gradient requires the redistribution of matter, resulting in the formation of topographies. Directional molecular motion induced by UV light can generate complex morphology, and produce materials with unique optical functions, such as charming‐ordered gratings. This straightforward method of fabricating micropatterns by photodimerization‐induced diffusion is successfully applied to patterned curved surfaces, microfluidic channels and encapsulation of integrated light emitting diode chips.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micropatterns Fabricated by Photodimerization‐Induced Diffusion

et al. 2021

Advanced Materials

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“…These material systems are sophisticated, but their transformations are predesigned and are not changeable beyond this design because the materials lack mechanisms to absorb external 'nutrients' to grow and to open new functions. Recently, several types of materials have been developed [42][43][44] that can incorporate feeding chemicals via irreversible reactions to increase their size and vary their properties. Such a bioinspired growing strategy for post-modulation can even be applied to different thermosetting materials.…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties

Aizenberg

Cui

Zhou

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Planaria can integrate external nutrients to grow or consume their bodies to degrow for adapting to environmental changes. In contrast, synthetic organic materials, especially those with crosslinked structures, are normally static and cannot post-vary their sizes and properties without compromising material mechanical performances for sustainable use. Inspired by Planaria, we here report a growing-degrowing strategy of enabling thermosetting materials to either absorb or release components for continuously changing their sizes, shapes, compositions, and a set of properties simultaneously. The strategy is based on the monomer-polymer equilibrium of networks in which supplying or removing small polymerizable components would drive the networks toward expansion or contraction. Using acid-catalyzed equilibration of siloxane as an example, we demonstrate that the size and mechanical properties of the resulting silicone materials can be significantly or finely tuned in both directions of growth and decomposition. The equilibration can be turned off to yield stable products or reactivated again. During the degrowing-growing circle, material structures are selectively varied either uniformly or heterogeneously, by the availability of fillers. Our strategy endows the materials with many appealing capabilities including environment adaptivity, self-healing, and switchability of surface morphologies, shapes, and optical properties. Since monomer-polymer equilibration exists in many polymers, we envision the expansion of the presented strategy to various systems for many applications.

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“…Several creative approaches have been demonstrated for creating patterns on soft materials 4,5 , particularly photolithography 6,7 , buckling instabilities [8][9][10] , printing 11,12 , and moulding 13,14 . Photolithography is one of the most common methods for the chemical patterning of soft material surfaces owing to its high resolution and possibility of on-demand patterning.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Instantaneous micropatterning of a double-network hydrogel surface triggered by mechanical force

Cui

Wang³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Instantaneous patterning on soft material surfaces, such as hydrogels, is important in various research fields; however, it is extremely challenging. Existing strategies for soft material surface patterning are time-consuming and have poor chemical versatility. Herein, we show how micropatterns can be rapidly created on tough double-network (DN) hydrogel surfaces via sacrificial bonds and mechanical force-triggered radical polymerisation. Micropatterning is performed by local mechanical forces, which initiate radical polymerisation in a process zone in the presence of unsaturated monomers, resulting in on-demand functional patterns with a variety of geometries and chemistries. Such force-triggered activation occurs within seconds and is applicable to diverse monomers. To demonstrate potential applications, we engineered topographies and chemistries on DN hydrogel surfaces to control cell adhesion and water droplet directional transport.

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Light-regulated growth from dynamic swollen substrates for making rough surfaces

Cited by 44 publications

References 36 publications

Micropatterns Fabricated by Photodimerization‐Induced Diffusion

Micropatterns Fabricated by Photodimerization‐Induced Diffusion

Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties

Instantaneous micropatterning of a double-network hydrogel surface triggered by mechanical force

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