Chemo-mechanical polymer constructs for feedback, homeostasis, and oscillation: 7.3 Polymer Chemistry

The overarching goal of this project has been to develop materials chemistry and basic understanding that enable fundamentally new types of hybrid materials, wherein responsive polymer elements are used to couple the chemical or thermal outputs of active elements such as catalysts and photothermal heaters to shape changes, thereby feeding back to regulate the activity of the elements. Over the course of the project, we made major progress on several topics 1 hysteretic self-folding in response to enzymatic catalysis, 2 reversible assembly and sustained motion of micro-patterned hydrogel composites, 3 photo-thermal capillary oscillators, and4 improving shape-control and robustness in self-folding materials.