Abstract
Shape programmable materials capable of morphing from a flat sheet into controlled three dimensional (3D) shapes offer promise in diverse areas including soft robotics, tunable optics, and bio-engineering. We describe a simple method of 'grayscale gel lithography' that relies on a digital micromirror array device (DMD) to control the dose of ultraviolet (UV) light, and therefore the extent of swelling of a photocrosslinkable poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm) copolymer film, with micrometer-scale spatial resolution. This approach allows for effectively smooth profiles of swelling to be prescribed, enabling the preparation of buckled 3D shapes with programmed Gaussian curvature.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 4985-4990 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Soft Matter |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 22 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics