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Liu M, Yang S. Exploiting Molecular Orders at the Interface of Microdroplets for Intelligent Materials. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:739-750. [PMID: 38403956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusThe intrinsic molecular order of liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is the origin of their stimuli-responsive properties. The programmable responsiveness and functionality, such as shape morphing and color change under external stimuli, are the key features that attract interest in designing LC- and LCE-based intelligent material platforms. Methods such as mechanical stretching and shearing, surface alignment, and field-assisted alignment have been exploited to program the order of LC molecules for the desired responsiveness. However, the huge size mismatch between the nanometer-sized LC mesogens and the targeted macroscopic objects calls for questions about how to delicately control molecular order for desired performance. Microparticles that can be synthesized with intrinsic molecular order precisely controlled to micrometer size can be used as building blocks for bulk materials, thus offering opportunities to bridge the gap and transcend molecular orders across scales. By taking advantage of the interfacial anchoring effects, we can control and engineer the molecular orders inside the microdroplets, allowing for the realization of various responsive behaviors. Furthermore, designer LC microparticles with multiple responsiveness can be assembled and confined within a matrix, opening a new pathway to engineering LC-enabled intelligent materials.In this Account, we present our recent work on exploiting the molecular order inside microdroplets for the construction of intelligent materials. We briefly introduce the typical chemicals used in the synthesis and the methods developed to control LC molecular alignment within a microdroplets. We then present examples of microparticles synthesized from microdroplets that can transform into complex morphologies upon cooling from the isotropic to nematic phase or due to phase separation within the droplets coupled with the segregation of LC oligomers (LCOs) with polydisperse chain lengths. Furthermore, we show the synthesis of elliptical LCE microparticles and exploit their thermal and magnetic responsiveness to program shape-morphing behaviors and microarrays with switchable optical polarization. By mixing magnetic nanoparticles in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) and silicone oils, we created Janus microparticles capable of color switching for camouflage and information encryption. Moreover, we can engineer complex molecular orders in LCE microparticles by mixing different surfactants, yielding microparticles of diverse anisotropic, temperature-responsive shapes after photopolymerization and extraction of the template LC molecules with different solvents. We conclude the Account with an outlook on the design of intelligent material systems via the design of unprecedented molecular ordering within the microparticles and their coupling with bulk materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Shu Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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McGovern AD, Huang MJ, Wang J, Kapral R, Aranson IS. Multifunctional Chiral Chemically-Powered Micropropellers for Cargo Transport and Manipulation. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304773. [PMID: 37936335 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Practical applications of synthetic self-propelled nano and microparticles for microrobotics, targeted drug delivery, and manipulation at the nanoscale are rapidly expanding. However, fabrication limitations often hinder progress, resulting in relatively simple shapes and limited functionality. Here, taking advantage of 3D nanoscale printing, chiral micropropellers powered by the hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction are fabricated. Due to their chirality, the propellers exhibit multifunctional behavior controlled by an applied magnetic field: spinning in place (loitering), directed migration in the prescribed direction, capture, and transport of polymer cargo particles. Design parameters of the propellers are optimized by computation modeling based on mesoscale molecular dynamics. It is predicted by computer simulations, and confirmed experimentally, that clockwise rotating propellers attract each other and counterclockwise repel. These results shed light on how chirality and shape optimization enhance the functionality of synthetic autonomous micromachines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlee D McGovern
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Mu-Jie Huang
- Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Jiyuan Wang
- School of Electrical and Control Engineering, Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology, Harbin, 150022, P. R. China
| | - Raymond Kapral
- Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Igor S Aranson
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Mathematics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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Oh MH, Kim YH, Han J, Kim Y, Kim D, Kim KS, Lee JY, Kim SK, Kwon MS, Kim SY, Kang SK. Magnetically Actuated Trigger Transient Soft Actuators Comprising On-Demand Photo-Initiated and Thermo-Degradable Polypropylene Carbonate-Photo-Acid Generator. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38415664 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Lifetime-reconfigurable soft robots have emerged as a new class of robots, emphasizing the unmet needs of futuristic sustainability and security. Trigger-transient materials that can both actuate and degrade on-demand are crucial for achieving life-reconfigurable soft robots. Here, we propose the use of transient and magnetically actuating materials that can decompose under ultraviolet light and heat, achieved by adding photo-acid generator (PAG) and magnetic particles (Sr-ferrite) to poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC). Chemical and thermal analyses reveal that the mechanism of PPC-PAG decomposition occurs through PPC backbone cleavage by the photo-induced acid. The self-assembled monolayer (SAM) encapsulation of Sr-ferrite preventing the interaction with the PAG allowed the transience of magnetic soft actuators. We demonstrate remotely controllable and degradable magnetic soft kirigami actuators using blocks with various magnetized directions. This study proposes novel approaches for fabricating lifetime-configurable magnetic soft actuators applicable to diverse environments and applications, such as enclosed/sealed spaces and security/military devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ha Oh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hwan Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Han
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongsub Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Daewhan Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Sub Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Yong Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Koog Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Sang Kwon
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yup Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Kyun Kang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Advanced Materials (RIAM), Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Nano Systems Institute SOFT Foundry, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Park JE, Kwon SH, Lu Q, Choi HJ, Wie JJ. Synergistic Inclusion Effects of Hard Magnetic Nanorods on the Magnetomechanical Actuation of Soft Magnetic Microsphere-Based Polymer Composites. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2305272. [PMID: 37702152 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
The magnetomechanical actuation of micropillars is developed for the contactless manipulation of miniaturized actuators and microtextured surfaces. Anisotropic geometry of micropillars can significantly enhance the magnetic actuation compared with their isotropic counterparts by directional stress distributions. However, this strategy is not viable for triangular micropillars owing to insufficient anisotropy. In this study, a significant improvement in the magnetic actuation of triangular micropillars using composite magnetic particles is reported. A minute and optimal amount of hard magnetic gamma-ferrite nanorods are hybridized with soft magnetic iron microspheres to generate synergistic effects of magnetic coupling and percolation phenomenon on the magnetic actuation of polymer composites. The addition of 1 wt% face-centered cubic-phased gamma-ferrite nanorods suppresses the magnetic coupling interference of body-centered cubic-phased iron microspheres. Furthermore, the nanorods reduce the percolation threshold by participating in the percolation of the microspheres. A systematic compositional study on the magnetization and magnetorheological properties reveals that the coupling effect dominates the percolation effect at a low magnetic field, whereas the percolation effect governs the magnetic actuation at a high magnetic field. This hybrid approach can help in designing material constituents for effective magnetic actuators and robotic systems that can sensitively respond to an external magnetic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Eun Park
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyuk Kwon
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Qi Lu
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Jin Choi
- Program in Environmental and Polymer Engineering, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, 22212, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Jae Wie
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Human-Tech Convergence Program, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
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Park JE, Je H, Kim CR, Park S, Yu Y, Cho W, Won S, Kang DJ, Han TH, Kwak R, Lee SG, Kim S, Wie JJ. Programming Anisotropic Functionality of 3D Microdenticles by Staggered-Overlapped and Multilayered Microarchitectures. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2309518. [PMID: 38014492 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Natural sharkskin features staggered-overlapped and multilayered architectures of riblet-textured anisotropic microdenticles, exhibiting drag reduction and providing a flexible yet strong armor. However, the artificial fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) sharkskin with these unique functionalities and mechanical integrity is a challenge using conventional techniques. In this study, it is reported on the facile microfabrication of multilayered 3D sharkskin through the magnetic actuation of polymeric composites and subsequent chemical shape fixation by casting thin polymeric films. The fabricated hydrophobic sharkskin, with geometric symmetry breaking, achieves anisotropic drag reduction in frontal and backward flow directions against the riblet-textured microdenticles. For mechanical integrity, hard-on-soft multilayered mechanical properties are realized by coating the polymeric sharkskin with thin layers of zinc oxide and platinum, which have higher hardness and recovery behaviors than the polymer. This multilayered hard-on-soft sharkskin exhibits friction anisotropy, mechanical robustness, and structural recovery. Furthermore, coating the MXene nanosheets provides the fabricated sharkskin with a low electrical resistance of ≈5.3 Ω, which leads to high Joule heating (≈229.9 °C at 2.75 V). The proposed magnetomechanical actuation-assisted microfabrication strategy is expected to facilitate the development of devices requiring multifunctional microtextures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong Eun Park
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeongmin Je
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Chae Ryean Kim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, Republic of Korea
| | - Sudong Park
- Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonuk Yu
- Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Woongbi Cho
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, Human-Tech Convergence Program, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Sukyoung Won
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jun Kang
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hee Han
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, The Research Institute of Industrial Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Rhokyun Kwak
- Department of Mechanical Convergence Engineering, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Goo Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, 44610, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanha Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Jae Wie
- Department of Organic and Nano Engineering, Human-Tech Convergence Program, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Nano Science and Technology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Michael M. Szwarc Polymer Research Institute, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
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Kim DS, Kim M, Seo S, Kim JH. Nature-Inspired Chiral Structures: Fabrication Methods and Multifaceted Applications. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:527. [PMID: 37999168 PMCID: PMC10669407 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8070527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Diverse chiral structures observed in nature find applications across various domains, including engineering, chemistry, and medicine. Particularly notable is the optical activity inherent in chiral structures, which has emerged prominently in the field of optics. This phenomenon has led to a wide range of applications, encompassing optical components, catalysts, sensors, and therapeutic interventions. This review summarizes the imitations and applications of naturally occurring chiral structures. Methods for replicating chiral architectures found in nature have evolved with specific research goals. This review primarily focuses on a top-down approach and provides a summary of recent research advancements. In the latter part of this review, we will engage in discussions regarding the diverse array of applications resulting from imitating chiral structures, from the optical activity in photonic crystals to applications spanning light-emitting devices. Furthermore, we will delve into the applications of biorecognition and therapeutic methodologies, comprehensively examining and deliberating upon the multifaceted utility of chiral structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Seul Kim
- Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea (M.K.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Myounggun Kim
- Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea (M.K.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
| | - Soonmin Seo
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Hyung Kim
- Department of Energy Systems Research, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea (M.K.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
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