Contact
    Start Publications Controlling Hydrogel Properties by the Cooperative Harvesting ...
    ←  Publication Finder
    Attension

    Controlling Hydrogel Properties by the Cooperative Harvesting of the Components of Sunlight

    Year: 2019

    Journal: Langmuir, Volume 35, OCT 8, page 13110–13115

    Authors: Kou, Ran; Wang, Tao; Chen, Zhen; Zhu, Renwei; Cai, Hongtao; Pang, Haoming; Xuan, Shouhu; Liu, Guangming

    Organizations: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [21622405, 21574121, 21873091]; Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS [2013290]; National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory [UN2018LHJJ]

    The utilization of the full spectrum of sunlight from ultraviolet to infrared to cooperatively control the properties of hydrogels is the key to developing efficient sunlight-responsive hydrogels, but there are significant challenges. The photoresponsive hydrogel developed here formed by azobenzene-containing polyzwitterionic chains possesses capabilities for simultaneously utilizing light from the ultraviolet to the infrared to cooperatively facilitate the gel-to-sol transitions. The ultraviolet and visible light can be converted into mechanical energy simultaneously to synergistically power the dynamic wagging of azobenzene groups, while the infrared light can be converted into kinetic energy of the zwitterionic groups to promote the wagging of the azobenzene groups. Cooperative action between the major components of sunlight can be applied to control a range of important properties of the hydrogel including wettability, adhesion, molecular release, self-healing, and mineralization. The work presented here demonstrates a novel strategy for harvesting all the major components of sunlight to control the properties of photoresponsive materials.
    View publication