Overview

The field of research into new materials is advancing by leaps and bounds, allowing us to improve our technologies. Now, a team of scientists from the University of Texas has synthesized a novel flexible material capable of changing its rigidity in the presence of light. Astonishingly, the material, which was inspired by living things such as trees and shellfish, is ten times stronger than natural rubber!

The science and other stuff to know

In a study published in Science, the researchers revealed how they created the first plastic whose stiffness does not remain constant but instead changes when exposed to visible light. This innovative material is inspired by the properties of elastic and resistant living tissues such as rubber or human muscle.

The change in rigidity occurs when small molecules called monomers bind with other similar molecules, forming a structure similar to that of conventional plastic, and are illuminated with visible light. In the experiment, the experts used blue LED light to illuminate the structure and noticed how the illuminated areas had more rigid characteristics. In fact, the illuminated areas were 10 times stronger than rubber, while the area that remained dark remained elastic.

“The ability to control crystallization, and therefore the physical properties of the material, with the application of light, is potentially transformative for wearable electronics or actuators in soft robotics,” said Professor Zachariah Page, one of the paper’s authors.

Moreover, the process does not produce any type of waste, so it is basically harmless to the environment.

So what?

The researchers state that the combination of rigid and elastic areas in a continuous material can be an enormous advantage for robotics applications that require flexible materials that integrate joint elements while still being resistant to friction and deformation.

For example, it could be used in medical equipment and wearable devices. In the future, we could have foldable televisions or super-resistant cell phones thanks to this new material technology.

What’s next?

The researchers recognize the potential of this tough, cheap, malleable, and environmentally friendly material to revolutionize the technology development industry. According to lead author Adrian Rylski, they “are looking forward to exploring methods of applying this chemistry towards making 3D objects containing both hard and soft components”.

Next, the researchers will attempt to create more products out of the material in order to further test its utility.