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Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaozhuang Zhou

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
    INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials)

  • Yijun Zheng

    (ShanghaiTech University)

  • Haohui Zhang

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Li Yang

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Yubo Cui

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Baiju P. Krishnan

    (INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials)

  • Shihua Dong

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Michael Aizenberg

    (Harvard University)

  • Xinhong Xiong

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China)

  • Yuhang Hu

    (Georgia Institute of Technology
    Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • Joanna Aizenberg

    (Harvard University
    Harvard University)

  • Jiaxi Cui

    (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
    INM - Leibniz Institute for New Materials
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Growth constitutes a powerful method to post-modulate materials’ structures and functions without compromising their mechanical performance for sustainable use, but the process is irreversible. To address this issue, we here report a growing-degrowing strategy that enables 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaozhuang Zhou & Yijun Zheng & Haohui Zhang & Li Yang & Yubo Cui & Baiju P. Krishnan & Shihua Dong & Michael Aizenberg & Xinhong Xiong & Yuhang Hu & Joanna Aizenberg & Jiaxi Cui, 2023. "Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38768-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38768-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Juan Xue & Xuewu Yin & Lulu Xue & Chenglin Zhang & Shihua Dong & Li Yang & Yuanlai Fang & Yong Li & Ling Li & Jiaxi Cui, 2022. "Self-growing photonic composites with programmable colors and mechanical properties," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Manuel Häußler & Marcel Eck & Dario Rothauer & Stefan Mecking, 2021. "Closed-loop recycling of polyethylene-like materials," Nature, Nature, vol. 590(7846), pages 423-427, February.
    3. Lulu Xue & Xinhong Xiong & Baiju P. Krishnan & Fatih Puza & Sheng Wang & Yijun Zheng & Jiaxi Cui, 2020. "Light-regulated growth from dynamic swollen substrates for making rough surfaces," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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