Affiliation:
1. Life-Like Materials and Systems Department of Chemistry University of Mainz Duesbergweg 10–14 55218 Mainz Germany
Abstract
AbstractCellular organisms possess intricate mechano‐adaptive systems that enable them to sense forces and process them with (bio)chemical circuits for functional adaptation. Inspired by such processes, this study introduces a hydrogel system capable of mechanically activated and chemically transduced self‐destruction. Our judiciously designed hydrogels can mechanically generate radicals that are processed and amplified in a self‐propagating radical de‐crosslinking reaction, ultimately leading to mechanically triggered self‐immolation. We put such systems to work in mechano‐induced debonding, and in a bilayer actuator, where swelling‐induced bending generates sufficient force for selective degradation of one layer, leading to autonomous self‐regulation associated with unbending. Our work helps define design criteria for molecularly controlled adaptive and self‐regulating materials with embodied mechano‐chemical information processing, and showcases their potential for adhesives and soft robotics.
Funder
HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council
Gutenberg Forschungskolleg
Subject
General Chemistry,Catalysis