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Biomimetic Color-Changing Hierarchical and Gradient Hydrogel Actuators Based on Salt-Induced Microphase Separation
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posted on 2019-12-12, 13:10 authored by Yang Yang, Fei Tian, Xionglei Wang, Pingping Xu, Wenli An, Yan Hu, Shimei XuThere have been more challenges for hydrogel actuators
to meet the combined requirement of discoloration, complex deformation,
and simple preparation. Structural coloration is widely used to fabricate
discolored hydrogel via microrearrangement of photonic crystals in
the hydrogel framework. However, precise regulation is usually required.
Besides, the macro-optical properties are unstable. Herein, we develop
a hierarchical and gradient hydrogel actuator with complex deformation
and color-changing functions using an electrophoresis method. A simple
but effective strategy is presented for fabrication of hierarchical
hydrogel composed of homopolymers and copolymers via salt-induced
microphase separation during the polymerization of the N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium
chloride (DMC). Meanwhile a gradient distribution of DMC is also formed
during the polymerization due to migration of DMC under electric field.
The hierarchical and gradient structures are characterized by confocal
laser scanning microscope (CLSM), small-angle X-ray scattering measurement
(SAXS), temperature-variable Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), etc.
The discoloration mechanism is proposed. The as-prepared hydrogel
can undergo fast and complex thermo-triggered deformation and discoloration.
Bionic movements of discoloration flowering and information encryption
are successfully demonstrated, promising great potential in the application
of biomimetic materials.
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Keywords
Salt-Induced Microphase SeparationBionic movementsBiomimetic Color-Changing Hierarchicalgradient distributionhydrogel frameworkStructural colorationDMCinformation encryptionSAXShydrogel actuatorsphotonic crystalsdiscoloration mechanismthermo-triggered deformationbiomimetic materialsgradient hydrogel actuatorFTIRas-prepared hydrogelCLSMgradient structuresGradient Hydrogel Actuatorselectrophoresis methoddiscoloration floweringsalt-induced microphase separationmacro-optical propertiesconfocal laser scanning microscopecolor-changing functions