Weixian Huo1, Heng An2, Shuquan Chang1, Shengsheng Yang2, Yin Huang1, Xiaohong Zhang1, Xiaodan Hu1, Haiqian Zhang1. 1. Key Laboratory of Nuclear Technology Application and Radiation Protection in Astronautics, College of Material Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China. 2. Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics Laboratory, Lanzhou Institute of Physics, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Abstract
Environment-responsive hydrogel actuators have attracted tremendous attention due to their intriguing properties. Gamma radiation has been considered as a green cross-linking process for hydrogel synthesis, as toxic cross-linking agents and initiators were not required. In this work, chitosan/agar/P(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-acrylamide) (CS/agar/P(NIPAM-co-AM)) and CS/agar/Montmorillonite (MMT)/PNIPAM temperature-sensitive hydrogel bilayers were synthesized via gamma radiation at room temperature. The mechanical properties and temperature sensitivity of hydrogels under different agar content and irradiation doses were explored. The enhancement of the mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel can be attributed to the presence of agar and MMT. Due to the different temperature sensitivities provided by the two layers of hydrogel, they can move autonomously and act as a flexible gripper as the temperature changes. Thanks to the antibacterial properties of the hydrogel, their storage time and service life may be improved. The as prepared hydrogel bilayers have potential applications in control devices, soft robots, artificial muscles and other fields.
Environment-responsive hydrogel actuators have attracted tremendous attention due to their intriguing properties. Gamma radiation has been considered as a green cross-linking process for hydrogel synthesis, as toxic cross-linking agents and initiators were not required. In this work, pan class="Chemical">chitosan/agar/P(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-acrylamide) (CS/agar/P(NIPAM-co-AM)) and CS/agar/Montmorillonite (MMT)/PNIPAM temperature-sensitive hydrogel bilayers were synthesized via gamma radiation at room temperature. The mechanical properties and temperature sensitivity of hydrogels under different agar content and irradiation doses were explored. The enhancement of the mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel can be attributed to the presence of agar and MMT. Due to the different temperature sensitivities provided by the two layers of hydrogel, they can move autonomously and act as a flexible gripper as the temperature changes. Thanks to the antibacterial properties of the hydrogel, their storage time and service life may be improved. The as prepared hydrogel bilayers have potential applications in control devices, soft robots, artificial muscles and other fields.
Authors: Supitchaya Iamsaard; Sarah J Aßhoff; Benjamin Matt; Tibor Kudernac; Jeroen J L M Cornelissen; Stephen P Fletcher; Nathalie Katsonis Journal: Nat Chem Date: 2014-02-09 Impact factor: 24.427