Stimuli-Responsive Liquid Crystal Printheads for Spatial and Temporal Control of Polymerization.
Adv Mater
; 34(12): e2106535, 2022 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-35065542
ABSTRACT
Polymerization reactions triggered by stimuli play a pivotal role in materials science, with applications ranging from lithography to biomedicine to adaptive materials. However, the development of chemically triggered, stimuli-responsive systems that can confer spatial and temporal control on polymerization remains a challenge. Herein, chemical-stimuli-induced polymerization based on a liquid crystal (LC) printhead is presented. The LC responds to a local chemical stimulus at its aqueous interface, resulting in the ejection of initiator into the solution to trigger polymerization. Various LC printhead geometries are designed, allowing programming of i) bulk solution polymerization, ii) synthesis of a thin surface-confined polymeric coating, iii) polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymers to form various nanostructures (sphere, worm-like, and vesicles), and iv) 3D polymeric structures printed according to local solution conditions. The approach is demonstrated using amphiphiles, multivalent ions, and biomolecules as stimuli.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Adv Mater
Journal subject:
BIOFISICA
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States