Microstructured thermo-responsive double network granular hydrogels

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgels with connected pores by leveraging phase separations. To impart the porous hydrogel load-bearing properties, we formulate them as thermo-responsive double network granular hydrogels (TDNGHs). We demonstrate that the granular structure combined with the open micropores located within the microfragments increase the response-rate of these gels 3-fold compared to that of bulk counterparts. Moreover, the granular material exhibits 18-fold enhanced work of fracture compared to the bulk. The granular structure adds an additional benefit: it renders them 3D printable. We co-process thermo-responsive hydrogels with a non-responsive counterpart to fabricate a bilayer, which lifts up to 85% of its weight if heated and 3D print a butterfly as a bilayer structure that bends its wings when exposed to elevated temperatures.