Control over the movement and dynamics of nano/microstructures is fundamentally important for actuators and sensors, tunable optics, micromanipulation, and the design of �smart� responsive surfaces. There has been significant focus on hybrid actuating surfaces comprised of polymeric high-aspect-ratio structures embedded in, and actuated by, a responsive hydrogel. Previous experiment and theory has focused on the case of a thin hydrogel layer with protruding structures, but we describe an entirely new actuation regime for the case of thicker poly(acrylic acid - co - acrylamide) hydrogel. We explore how microfluidic pH gradients within the hydrogel affect the gel morphology and how we can harness that asymmetry to drive the actuation of embedded structures.

Patterned pH-responsive hydrogel-driven actuation via microfluidic chemical gradients

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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