Life-inspired physical feedback coupling in multidimensional hydrogels

Introduction

Towards the new frontier of self-regulated, autonomous, and adaptive synthetic materials, DIMENSION aims to bring a breakthrough by introducing coupled physical feedback loops in multidimensional hydrogels. Physical feedback mechanisms allow remote powering and interplay with environmental stimuli and have proven to be instrumental in achieving groundbreaking material functionalities.

Current Limitations

However, the state-of-the-art physical feedback systems are all limited to single negative feedback loops within a predefined dimensionality. Inspired by the complex responses regulated by multi-component coupled feedbacks in biological systems, I envisage unprecedented functionalities enabled by the new concept in DIMENSION.

Grand Challenges

The grand challenges to construct physical feedback coupling lie in implementing new feedback mechanisms in responsive materials and interfacing different feedback mechanisms to form coupling. Herein, I propose to develop new positive feedback mechanisms based on scattering enhanced absorption in hydrogels, supported by my recent discovery, which will be interfaced with a negative feedback loop to construct coupled feedback loops.

Project Objectives

DIMENSION will create hydrogel systems fueled by a constant laser beam, and the synergy of optical excitation and gels' response will result in steady states or robust oscillations of temperature, allowing sensing of external stimuli and local enhancement of response. The feedback coupling will enable three new model systems with multidimensional geometries:

1. 1D adaptive motility in soft devices
2. 2D mechano-training in bilayer films
3. 3D multidirectional adaptive sensors

Impact

DIMENSION will provide new design routes for coupled feedback loops in soft materials across multidimensional geometries. The impact of DIMENSION will be far-reaching beyond self-regulated and adaptive materials, providing implications for embodied intelligence, artificial skin, human-machine interfaces, and bio-inspired actuators.