Photochemical Patterning and Characterization of Mechanical Properties on Soft Materials

Innovative photoresponsive hydrogels have been developed, enabling advancements in soft robotics and digital information storage. Characterized through microindentation, the new photo-stiffening and photo-softening hydrogels utilize unique crosslinking methods. Their integration allows the design of soft actuators controlled by UV light, paving the way for versatile applications in multiple fields.