A photo-mechanical coupling theory for photoisomerization hydrogel considering the distribution state of molecular chains

Abstract

Owing to the possibility of controlling its specific mechanical behaviors uptaken by irradiated by light at particular wavelengths, the photoisomerization hydrogels have a broad range of potential applications. A theory connecting the optical excitation to mechanical behavior is essential to precisely control the photo-mechanical behaviors of the hydrogel. In this work, a photo-mechanical coupling theory is developed to describe the photo-mechanical responses of photoisomerization hydrogels within the framework of finite deformation continuum thermodynamics. In the model, the deformation gradient is decomposed into two parts to effectively model the light-induced deformation and the elastic one. To consider the effect of the optical excitation on mechanical behaviors, we first investigate the transporting mechanism of light in hydrogel, as well as the photochemical reaction process; and we then explore the disturbance of light irradiation on the equilibrium of the thermodynamic system of hydrogel, as well as the relationship of conformational entropy of hydrogel network with the photochemical reaction; finally, based on the entropy elasticity theory, we propose a new free energy function of the photosensitive hydrogel to consider the effect of molecular chain distribution evolution on the stiffness of the hydrogel network. With the implementation of the proposed model, we study the photo-mechanical behaviors and mechanical properties of photoisomerization hydrogels. The present research is helpful for understanding the multi-field coupling behaviors of the photosensitive hydrogel, and then providing guidelines for the application of photoisomerization hydrogel.