Design and Simulation of Thermo-Responsive 4D Hydrogel Materials

Stimuli-responsive hydrogel materials have significantly contributed to advancements in various industries and the research field of smart actuators. By integrating computer simulations with 4D materials research, we have improved the precision of our studies and reduced research time. The fabrication of bilayer-designed stimuli-responsive hydrogels has been extensively investigated. In this study, we developed and analyzed bilayer-designed hydrogels using acrylamide (AM), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm), and 3-[[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethylammonio]propane-1-sulfonate (SBMA) monomers. These hydrogels were based on LCST, UCST, and standard hydrogel formulations and were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, rheological measurements, and 4D motion analysis. The bilayer hydrogel samples, composed of LCST and UCST polymer materials (NIPAm and SBMA), demonstrated curvature and inverse-curvature 4D movements across a temperature range of 4 degrees C70 degrees C. By employing computer simulations to predict 4D movements in bilayer-designed samples, we achieved more precise insights into the properties of thermo-responsive hydrogel materials. This study highlights the potential of combining computer simulations with experimental approaches to design more complex and sophisticated 4D materials in the future.