Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator
Soft actuators based on hydrogel materials, which can convert light energy directly into mechanical energy, are of the utmost importance, especially with enhancements in device development. However, the hunt for specific photothermal nanomaterials with distinct performance remains challenging. In th...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/7/1419 |
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| author | Sifani Zavahir Patrik Sobolčiak Igor Krupa Dong Suk Han Jan Tkac Peter Kasak |
| author_facet | Sifani Zavahir Patrik Sobolčiak Igor Krupa Dong Suk Han Jan Tkac Peter Kasak |
| author_sort | Sifani Zavahir |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Soft actuators based on hydrogel materials, which can convert light energy directly into mechanical energy, are of the utmost importance, especially with enhancements in device development. However, the hunt for specific photothermal nanomaterials with distinct performance remains challenging. In this study, we successfully fabricated a bilayer hydrogel actuator consisting of an active photothermal layer from incorporated Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><i>x</i></sub> MXene in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) p(NIPAm)hydrogel structure and a passive layer from the N-(2-hydroxylethylpropyl)acrylamide (HEAA) hydrogel structure. The uniform and effective incorporation of MXene into the NIPAm hydrogel structures were characterized by a battery of techniques. The light responsive swelling properties of the MXene-embedded NIPAm-based hydrogel demonstrated fully reversible and repeatable behavior in the light on–off regime for up to ten consecutive cycles. The effect of MXene loading, the shape of the actuator, and the light source effects on the bilayer NIPAm-HEAA hydrogel structure were investigated. The bilayer hydrogel with MXene loading of 0.3% in the NIPAm hydrogel exhibited a 200% change of the bending angle in terms of its bidirectional shape/volume after 100 s exposure to white light at an intensity of 70 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>. Additionally, the bending behavior under real sunlight was evaluated, showing the material’s potential applicability in practical environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:20:05Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:20:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1e3e664f9c0450992f5028fa3b05bbc2023-11-20T07:24:23ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912020-07-01107141910.3390/nano10071419Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer PhotoactuatorSifani Zavahir0Patrik Sobolčiak1Igor Krupa2Dong Suk Han3Jan Tkac4Peter Kasak5Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, QatarCenter for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, QatarCenter for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, QatarCenter for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, QatarInstitute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84538 Bratislava, SlovakiaCenter for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713 Doha, QatarSoft actuators based on hydrogel materials, which can convert light energy directly into mechanical energy, are of the utmost importance, especially with enhancements in device development. However, the hunt for specific photothermal nanomaterials with distinct performance remains challenging. In this study, we successfully fabricated a bilayer hydrogel actuator consisting of an active photothermal layer from incorporated Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><i>x</i></sub> MXene in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) p(NIPAm)hydrogel structure and a passive layer from the N-(2-hydroxylethylpropyl)acrylamide (HEAA) hydrogel structure. The uniform and effective incorporation of MXene into the NIPAm hydrogel structures were characterized by a battery of techniques. The light responsive swelling properties of the MXene-embedded NIPAm-based hydrogel demonstrated fully reversible and repeatable behavior in the light on–off regime for up to ten consecutive cycles. The effect of MXene loading, the shape of the actuator, and the light source effects on the bilayer NIPAm-HEAA hydrogel structure were investigated. The bilayer hydrogel with MXene loading of 0.3% in the NIPAm hydrogel exhibited a 200% change of the bending angle in terms of its bidirectional shape/volume after 100 s exposure to white light at an intensity of 70 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>. Additionally, the bending behavior under real sunlight was evaluated, showing the material’s potential applicability in practical environments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/7/1419MXenephotoactuatorNIPAmbilayer hydrogel |
| spellingShingle | Sifani Zavahir Patrik Sobolčiak Igor Krupa Dong Suk Han Jan Tkac Peter Kasak Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator Nanomaterials MXene photoactuator NIPAm bilayer hydrogel |
| title | Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator |
| title_full | Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator |
| title_fullStr | Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator |
| title_short | Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<i><sub>x</sub></i> MXene-Based Light-Responsive Hydrogel Composite for Bendable Bilayer Photoactuator |
| title_sort | ti sub 3 sub c sub 2 sub t i sub x sub i mxene based light responsive hydrogel composite for bendable bilayer photoactuator |
| topic | MXene photoactuator NIPAm bilayer hydrogel |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/10/7/1419 |
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