Programming Stepwise Motility into a Sheet of Paper Using Inkjet Printing

Abstract

Advances in printing technology and design software have enabled the rapid and convenient replication of entities. Herein, a method that provides motility to a paper through inkjet printing and that makes a paper self-fold along printed lines is presented. A sequence of self-folding is successfully programmed by modifying the dynamics of self-folding. The interaction between printing aqueous solutions and a paper is used to program motion. An extremely simple stepwise self-folding system is constructed by injecting multiple aqueous solutions into an inkjet printer. A new mechanism is also discussed for the self-folding of the paper by experimentally varying the concentration of additives. The suggested method enables the fabrication of various structures in addition to activating self-folded structures. Finally, a fundamental experiment using the proposed method to provide heliotropism to a silicone rod is successfully demonstrated.