Zhang Liwen, Huang Xumin, Cole Tim, Lu Hongda, Hang Jiangyu, Li Weihua, Tang Shi-Yang, Boyer Cyrille, Davis Thomas P, Qiao Ruirui
Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
Department of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
Nat Commun. 2023 Nov 28;14(1):7815. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43667-4.
4D printing combines 3D printing with nanomaterials to create shape-morphing materials that exhibit stimuli-responsive functionalities. In this study, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization agents grafted onto liquid metal nanoparticles are successfully employed in ultraviolet light-mediated stereolithographic 3D printing and near-infrared light-responsive 4D printing. Spherical liquid metal nanoparticles are directly prepared in 3D-printed resins via a one-pot approach, providing a simple and efficient strategy for fabricating liquid metal-polymer composites. Unlike rigid nanoparticles, the soft and liquid nature of nanoparticles reduces glass transition temperature, tensile stress, and modulus of 3D-printed materials. This approach enables the photothermal-induced 4D printing of composites, as demonstrated by the programmed shape memory of 3D-printed composites rapidly recovering to their original shape in 60 s under light irradiation. This work provides a perspective on the use of liquid metal-polymer composites in 4D printing, showcasing their potential for application in the field of soft robots.
4D打印将3D打印与纳米材料相结合，以制造出具有刺激响应功能的形状变形材料。在本研究中，接枝到液态金属纳米颗粒上的可逆加成-断裂链转移聚合剂成功应用于紫外光介导的立体光刻3D打印和近红外光响应4D打印。通过一锅法在3D打印树脂中直接制备球形液态金属纳米颗粒，为制备液态金属-聚合物复合材料提供了一种简单有效的策略。与刚性纳米颗粒不同，纳米颗粒的柔软液态性质降低了3D打印材料的玻璃化转变温度、拉伸应力和模量。这种方法能够实现复合材料的光热诱导4D打印，如3D打印复合材料在光照下60秒内快速恢复到原始形状的程序形状记忆所示。这项工作为液态金属-聚合物复合材料在4D打印中的应用提供了一个视角，展示了它们在软机器人领域的应用潜力。
