Self-Oscillating Gels Driven by the Belousov-Zhabotinsky Reaction as Novel Smart Materials

So far stimuli‐responsive polymer gels and their application to smart materials have been widely studied; this research has contributed to progress in gel science and engineering. For their development as a novel biomimetic polymer, studies of polymers with an autonomous self‐oscillating function ha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced materials (Weinheim) 2010-08, Vol.22 (31), p.3463-3483
Main Author: Yoshida, Ryo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomimetic Materials - chemistry
Biomimetics
Gels - chemistry
Hydrogels
Mechanical Phenomena
Microtechnology
Motion
Polymeric Materials
Polymers - chemistry
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Summary:So far stimuli‐responsive polymer gels and their application to smart materials have been widely studied; this research has contributed to progress in gel science and engineering. For their development as a novel biomimetic polymer, studies of polymers with an autonomous self‐oscillating function have been carried out since the first reports in 1996. The development of novel self‐oscillating polymers and gels have been successful utilizing the oscillating reaction, called the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction, which is recognized as a chemical model for understanding several autonomous phenomena in biological systems. The self‐oscillating polymer is composed of a poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) network in which the catalyst for the BZ reaction is covalently immobilized. In the presence of the reactants, the polymer undergoes spontaneous cyclic soluble–insoluble changes or swelling–deswelling changes (in the case of gel) without any on–off switching of external stimuli. Potential applications of the self‐socillating polymers and gels include several kinds of functional material systems, such as biomimetic actuators and mass transport surface. Novel self‐oscillating polymers and gels have been developed utilizing the oscillating reaction, called the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction. The polymer or gel undergoes spontaneous cyclic soluble–insoluble changes or swelling–deswelling changes without any on–off switching of external stimuli. Several kinds of functional material systems utilizing self‐oscillating polymers or gel are expected; potential systems include biomimetic actuators and mass transport surfaces.
ISSN:0935-9648
1521-4095
DOI:10.1002/adma.200904075