Printing of soft active materials

Abstract

Soft active materials have drawn increasing attention for applications in soft robotics and wearable technologies, and 3D printing offers a powerful route to fabricate complex architectures with programmable functions. In this presentation, I will introduce three of our recent studies on additive manufacturing of distinct soft active systems. First, I will discuss 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers and a printing strategy that enables tailored thermomechanical responses through precise control of printing parameters. Second, I will present our bioprinting of mechanoluminescent living composites by embedding dinoflagellates in a hydrogel matrix, yielding printed structures with exceptionally high force sensitivity. Finally, I will describe our progress on printing electrically responsive PVC dielectric gels, demonstrating printed sheets that operate as electrically controlled optical devices for adaptive photonic systems.