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Dynamic Growth of Macroscopically Structured Supramolecular Hydrogels through Orchestrated Reaction-Diffusion |
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| Authors: | Hucheng Wang Dr. Xiaoming Fu Guanyao Gu Shengyu Bai Dr. Runlai Li Prof. Weimin Zhong Prof. Xuhong Guo Dr. Rienk Eelkema Prof. Jan H. van Esch Prof. Zhixing Cao Prof. Yiming Wang |
| Affiliation: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai, 200237 P. R. China These authors contributed equally to this work.;2. Key Laboratory of Smart Manufacturing in Energy Chemical Process, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai, 200237 P. R. China These authors contributed equally to this work.;3. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai, 200237 P. R. China;4. Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119077 Singapore;5. Key Laboratory of Smart Manufacturing in Energy Chemical Process, East China University of Science and Technology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai, 200237 P. R. China;6. Department of Chemical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Living organisms are capable of dynamically changing their structures for adaptive functions through sophisticated reaction-diffusion processes. Here we show how active supramolecular hydrogels with programmable lifetimes and macroscopic structures can be created by relying on a simple reaction-diffusion strategy. Two hydrogel precursors (poly(acrylic acid) PAA/CaCl2 and Na2CO3) diffuse from different locations and generate amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) nanoparticles at the diffusional fronts, leading to the formation of hydrogel structures driven by electrostatic interactions between PAA and ACC nanoparticles. Interestingly, the formed hydrogels are capable of autonomously disintegrating over time because of a delayed influx of electrostatic-interaction inhibitors (NaCl). The hydrogel growth process is well explained by a reaction-diffusion model which offers a theoretical means to program the dynamic growth of structured hydrogels. Furthermore, we demonstrate a conceptual access to dynamic information storage in soft materials using the developed reaction-diffusion strategy. This work may serve as a starting point for the development of life-like materials with adaptive structures and functionalities. |
| Keywords: | Hydrogels Non-Equilibrium Systems Reaction-Diffusion Self-Assembly Supramolecular Materials |