Issue 9, 2019

Trends in polymeric shape memory hydrogels and hydrogel actuators

Abstract

Recently, “smart” hydrogels with either shape memory behavior or reversible actuation have received particular attention and have been further developed into sensors, actuators, or artificial muscles. These three-dimensional polymer networks with the capability of shape deformations show a volume phase transition after being triggered by external physicochemical stimuli. Here, we review the recent advancements and the different types of shape memory hydrogels (SMHs). In addition, stimuli-responsive hydrogel actuators have been investigated with a special focus on their stimulation, their motion-deformation strategies and on the fabrication technologies adopted in hydrogel-based actuators, and finally their applications are described and discussed using specific examples.

Graphical abstract: Trends in polymeric shape memory hydrogels and hydrogel actuators

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
04 Sep 2018
Accepted
11 Jan 2019
First published
17 Jan 2019
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Polym. Chem., 2019,10, 1036-1055

Trends in polymeric shape memory hydrogels and hydrogel actuators

J. Shang, X. Le, J. Zhang, T. Chen and P. Theato, Polym. Chem., 2019, 10, 1036 DOI: 10.1039/C8PY01286E

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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