NIR-Responsive, Bionic, Shape Memory Polymers with Dynamically Cross-Linking Network

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are a class of stimulus-responsive materials that are capable of restoring shape after heating. With the development of science and technology, the requirements for shape memory materials are getting higher and higher to meet the needs of different applications. However, these conventional shape memory materials are hard to be remodeled into different shapes due to their cross-linking structure. Meanwhile, the single-heating-triggered shape memory effect limits the application scenarios of SMPs. Herein, we reported a dynamically cross-linking polymer network using polycaprolactone copped with dopamine (PCL-Dopa) and complex ion Fe³⁺ to realize the remodeling of polymers after shape restoration. In addition, based on the photothermal conversion of metal–organic coordination formed by PCL-Dopa and Fe³⁺, such SMPs can achieve a sensitive photothermal response and realize the shape memory effect. Therefore, these PCL-Dopa-Fe³⁺ polymers have the potential to be applied in light-responsive switches, brakes, and other scenarios.