Local switching of chemical patterns through light-triggered unfolding of creased hydrogel surfaces

Abstract

Visible light induces switching of surface chemical patterns based on hybrid gels of thermally responsive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) copolymer networks containing iron oxide nanoparticles. The swelling of these hybrid gels is reduced upon illumination (see picture), allowing controlled unfolding of creased features formed owing to an elastic surface instability. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.