POS4-0460
Pine Cone-Inspired Water-Responsive Soft Actuators via Interfacial Phase Separation and Bilayer Design
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Sep 29, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Hae Jung SON
Boseok KANG
Presenter(s)
yoonsung Noh (Yonsei university)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
In nature, various biological systems generate motion through active mechanical deformations in response to environmental stimuli. Herein, we developed a programmable bilayer film capable of autonomous deformation underwater inspired by the closing behavior of pine cone upon water exposure. At a microscale, we designed a hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface to promote localized water diffusion and induce rapid deformation upon water penetration. We further engineered a bilayer architecture with stiffness and swelling mismatch at a macro scale to generate curling. Additionally, pre-strain programming was incorporated to achieve programmable deformation, enabling the film to bend along a defined direction. As a result, through this multiscale design strategy, the developed actuator successfully mimics the deformation behavior of a pine cone and demonstrates precise control of underwater motion, offering a versatile platform for applications in soft robotics and artificial muscles.
