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Solvent-adaptive hydrogels with lamellar confinement cellular structure for programmable multimodal locomotion

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Yao

    (Hefei University of Technology)

  • Hong Chen

    (Hefei University of Technology)

  • Haili Qin

    (Hefei University of Technology)

  • Qi-Hang Wu

    (Hefei University of Technology)

  • Huai-Ping Cong

    (Hefei University of Technology)

  • Shu-Hong Yu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology
    University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

Biological organisms can perform flexible and controllable multimodal motion under external stimuli owing to the hierarchical assembly of anisotropic structures across multiple length scales. However, artificial soft actuators exhibit the limited response speed, deformation programmability and movement capability especially in harsh environments because of insufficient anisotropic hierarchy and precision in structural design. Here, we report a programmed assembly directed confinement polymerization method for the fabrication of environmentally tolerant and fast responsive hydrogels with lamellar assembly-confined cellular structure interpenetrated with highly aligned nanopillars by the directional freezing-assisted polymerization in the predesigned anisotropic laminar scaffold. The obtained hydrogel exhibits ultrafast responsiveness and anisotropic deformation exposed to temperature/light/solvent stimulation, maintaining highly consistent responsive deformation capability in all-polarity solvents over 100 days of soaking. Moreover, the hydrogels implement photoactive programmable multi-gait locomotion whose amplitude and directionality are precisely regulated by the intrinsic structure, including controlled crawling and rotation in water and non-polar solvents, and 3D self-propulsion floating and swimming in polar solvents. Thus, this hydrogel with hierarchically ordered structure and dexterous locomotion may be suitable for flexible intelligent actuators serving in harsh solvent environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Yao & Hong Chen & Haili Qin & Qi-Hang Wu & Huai-Ping Cong & Shu-Hong Yu, 2024. "Solvent-adaptive hydrogels with lamellar confinement cellular structure for programmable multimodal locomotion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-53549-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53549-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kexin Guo & Xuehan Yang & Chao Zhou & Chuang Li, 2024. "Self-regulated reversal deformation and locomotion of structurally homogenous hydrogels subjected to constant light illumination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Rasool Nasseri & Negin Bouzari & Junting Huang & Hossein Golzar & Sarah Jankhani & Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang & Tizazu H. Mekonnen & Amirreza Aghakhani & Hamed Shahsavan, 2023. "Programmable nanocomposites of cellulose nanocrystals and zwitterionic hydrogels for soft robotics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
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