Abstract
Metals and polymers are dissimilar materials in terms of their physicochemical properties, but complementary in terms of functionality. As a result, metal-organic structures can introduce a wealth of novel applications in small-scale robotics. However, current fabrication techniques are unable to process three-dimensional metallic and polymeric components. Here, we show that hybrid microstructures can be interlocked by combining 3D lithography, mold casting, and electrodeposition. Our method can be used to achieve complex multi-material microdevices with unprecedented resolution and topological complexity. We show that metallic components can be combined with structures made of different classes of polymers. Properties of both metals and polymers can be exploited in parallel, resulting in structures with high magnetic responsiveness, elevated drug loading capacity, on-demand shape transformation, and elastic behavior. We showcase the advantages of our approach by demonstrating new microrobotic locomotion modes and controlled agglomeration of swarms.
Highlights
Metals and polymers are dissimilar materials in terms of their physicochemical properties, but complementary in terms of functionality
To better showcase the need for such a construct that can combine intrinsically distinct materials, we introduce the problem of integrating two independent 3D geometries, one being entirely composed of metal, while the other is composed of pure gelatin, prepared without the addition of any crosslinking agent, and possibly loaded with drug molecules
The modular fabrication strategy presented in this work introduces the possibility of overcoming issues related to processing incompatibilities between different classes of materials, such as metals and hydrogels
Summary
Metals and polymers are dissimilar materials in terms of their physicochemical properties, but complementary in terms of functionality. To better showcase the need for such a construct that can combine intrinsically distinct materials, we introduce the problem of integrating two independent 3D geometries, one being entirely composed of metal, while the other is composed of pure gelatin, prepared without the addition of any crosslinking agent, and possibly loaded with drug molecules This particular combination highlights several obstacles, including (i) the non- existence of any other method rather than mold casting capable of shaping non-modified gelatin (i.e., without chemical modification or the addition of cross-linkers) into 3D structures at the microscale[15]; (ii) the impossibility of performing surface metallization (i.e., electroless plating or vacuum deposition) of gelatin without compromising its mechanical and chemical features, nor of loading it with a magnetic volume comparable to that of a fully metallic structure; and (iii) the limited amount of drugs that can be coated on the surface of a fully metallic structure without adding an additional coating. Combining these two materials represents a fabrication challenge that, if solved, would enable the use of several other combinations of materials, including shape-responsive hydrogels[16], metal-organic frameworks[17], and multiferroic polymer composites[18]
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