Microfabrication Using Shape-Transforming Soft Materials

Abstract

The fabrication of hollow and multicomponent micro-objects with complex inner structures using state-of-the-art subtractive, formative, and additive manufacturing technologies is challenging. Controlled shape transformation offers a very elegant solution to this challenge. While shape transformations on macroscale can be achieved using either manual or automatic manipulation, shape transformations on microscale can better be realized using shape-changing polymers such as hydrogels, shape-memory polymers, liquid crystalline elastomers, and others. This review discusses the properties of different classes of shape-changing materials, the principle of shape transformation, possibilities to achieve complex shape transformation, as well as applications of shape-changing materials in microfabrication and other fields.