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Chen YF, Huang MR, Hsu YS, Chang MH, Lo TY, Gautam B, Hsu HH, Chen JT. Photo-Healable Fabrics: Achieving Structural Control via Photochemical Solid-Liquid Transitions of Polystyrene/Azobenzene-Containing Polymer Blends. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:29153-29161. [PMID: 38770559 PMCID: PMC11163394 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c02578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
While polymer fabrics are integral to a wide range of applications, their vulnerability to mechanical damage limits their sustainability and practicality. Addressing this challenge, our study introduces a versatile strategy to develop photohealable fabrics, utilizing a composite of polystyrene (PS) and an azobenzene-containing polymer (PAzo). This combination leverages the structural stability of PS to compensate for the mechanical weaknesses of PAzo, forming the fiber structures. Key to our approach is the reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of azobenzene groups within the PAzo under UV light exposure, enabling controlled morphological alterations in the PS/PAzo blend fibers. The transition of PAzo sections from a solid to a liquid state at a low glass transition temperature (Tg ∼ 13.7 °C) is followed by solidification under visible light, thus stabilizing the altered fiber structures. In this study, we explore various PS/PAzo blend ratios to optimize surface roughness and mechanical properties. Additionally, we demonstrate the capability of these fibers for photoinduced self-healing. When damaged fabrics are clamped and subjected to UV irradiation for 20 min and pressed for 24 h, the mobility of the cis-form PAzo sections facilitates healing while retaining the overall fabric structure. This innovative approach not only addresses the critical issue of durability in polymer fabrics but also offers a sustainable and practical solution, paving the way for its application in smart clothing and advanced fabric-based materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Chen
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Ru Huang
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Shen Hsu
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsuan Chang
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Tse-Yu Lo
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Bhaskarchand Gautam
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Hsun-Hao Hsu
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Tai Chen
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Center
for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
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Chen YF, Hsieh CL, Lin PY, Liu YC, Lee MJ, Lee LR, Zheng S, Lin YL, Huang YL, Chen JT. Guard Cell-Inspired Ion Channels: Harnessing the Photomechanical Effect via Supramolecular Assembly of Cross-Linked Azobenzene/Polymers. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305317. [PMID: 37670223 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive ion nanochannels have attracted considerable attention in various fields because of their remote controllability of ionic transportation. For photoresponsive ion nanochannels, however, achieving precise regulation of ion conductivity is still challenging, primarily due to the difficulty of programmable structural changes in confined environments. Moreover, the relationship between noncontact photo-stimulation in nanoscale and light-induced ion conductivity has not been well understood. In this work, a versatile design for fabricating guard cell-inspired photoswitchable ion channels is presented by infiltrating azobenzene-cross-linked polymer (AAZO-PDAC) into nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes. The azobenzene-cross-linked polymer is formed by azobenzene chromophore (AAZO)-cross-linked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) with electrostatic interactions. Under UV irradiation, the trans-AAZO isomerizes to the cis-AAZO, causing the volume compression of the polymer network, whereas, in darkness, the cis-AAZO reverts to the trans-AAZO, leading to the recovery of the structure. Consequently, the resultant nanopore sizes can be manipulated by the photomechanical effect of the AAZO-PDAC polymers. By adding ionic liquids, the ion conductivity of the light-driven ion nanochannels can be controlled with good repeatability and fast responses (within seconds) in multiple cycles. The ion channels have promising potential in the applications of biomimetic materials, sensors, and biomedical sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Fan Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ling Hsieh
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Liu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Min-Jie Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Lin-Ruei Lee
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Sheng Zheng
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Liang Lin
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Lin Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Tai Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
- Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 300093, Taiwan
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