RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dual-gradient enabled ultrafast biomimetic snapping of hydrogel materials
JF Science Advances
JO Sci Adv
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP eaav7174
DO 10.1126/sciadv.aav7174
VO 5
IS 4
A1 Fan, Wenxin
A1 Shan, Caiyun
A1 Guo, Hongyu
A1 Sang, Jianwei
A1 Wang, Rui
A1 Zheng, Ranran
A1 Sui, Kunyan
A1 Nie, Zhihong
YR 2019
UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/5/4/eaav7174.abstract
AB The design of materials that can mimic the complex yet fast actuation phenomena in nature is important but challenging. Herein, we present a new paradigm for designing responsive hydrogel sheets that can exhibit ultrafast inverse snapping deformation. Dual-gradient structures of hydrogel sheets enable the accumulation of elastic energy in hydrogels by converting prestored energy and rapid reverse snapping (<1 s) to release the energy. By controlling the magnitude and location of energy prestored within the hydrogels, the snapping of hydrogel sheets can be programmed to achieve different structures and actuation behaviors. We have developed theoretical model to elucidate the crucial role of dual gradients and predict the snapping motion of various hydrogel materials. This new design principle provides guidance for fabricating actuation materials with applications in tissue engineering, soft robotics, and active medical implants.