Thermoplastic Photoheating Polymer Enables 3D‐Printed Self‐Healing Light‐Propelled Smart Devices

Abstract

Swimming devices have shown great potential in various fields. Future swimming devices are expected to be capable of facile fabrication, smart on-demand transportation, and self-healing. Here, a swimming device is developed with the aforementioned features based on a newly designed photoheating thermoplastic poly(sebacoyl diglyceride-co-4,4′-azodibenzoyl diglyceride) (PSeDA). PSeDA). PSeDA can be instantly heated by ultraviolet light to modulate its spatiotemporal viscoelasticity. Accordingly, a series of swimming devices are customized via single integrated 3D printing. The micrometer-scale grid structure enables versatile multimode motion and generates a higher propulsive force than that of typical molded analogs based on the photoheat-induced Marangoni effect. The device exhibits smart transportation capabilities, including capture, conveyance, and release, and is also the first of its kind to achieve self-healing. This work provides a design principle for swimming devices in which the key is photoheating thermoplastics. This design principle of material is further demonstrated by synthesizing photoheating thermoplastics responsive to visible and near infrared light and will inspire an exciting field of thermoplastics.

Self‐Healing Functional Electronic Devices

“…Actuators can respond to external stimuli and convert them into volume and shape changes, and reversible motions, which are essential for the development of soft robotics. [125,126] Due to the inherent working mode of the actuator, it is inevitable to suffer mechanical damage such as puncture and tear under long service times, which limits their longevity and performance. [127,128] Therefore, the integration of an excellent self-healing ability into a single stimulus-responsive material system will greatly facilitate and broaden the development of actuators.…”

A Review: Optimization for Poly(glycerol sebacate) and Fabrication Techniques for Its Centered Scaffolds

“…created a smart swimming device featured with facile manufacture, intelligent transportation, and self‐healing. [ 40 ] PSeDA has the abilities to adjust its viscoelasticity simply by the heating of ultraviolet light under different parameters. Consequently, a range of swimming devices with controllable structures could be customized via 3D printing.…”

“…Consequently, a range of swimming devices with controllable structures could be customized via 3D printing. [ 40 ] Compared with traditional molded counterparts, the PSeDA 3D‐printed structures ensured multiple motion patterns and were able to produce greater propulsive force of swimming devices. [ 40 ]…”

“…[ 40 ] Compared with traditional molded counterparts, the PSeDA 3D‐printed structures ensured multiple motion patterns and were able to produce greater propulsive force of swimming devices. [ 40 ]…”

Multi-stimuli-responsive actuator based on bilayered thermoplastic film

“…have been widely used in the practical plastics industry due to their simple, low-cost, cost-efficient and solvent-free processes. [32][33][34][35][36] For example, polymer multilayered film blowing is one of the most important methods for preparing multilayered films. Moreover, some commercial thermoplastics such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) are widely used to fabricate films via the film blowing method due to their low cost and excellent melt processing properties.…”