Abstract

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) hydrogels prepared by colloidal crystals templating display highly reversible shape memory properties, as confirmed by indirect electron microscopy imaging of their inverse replicas and direct nanoscale resolution X-ray microscopy imaging of the hydrated hydrogels. Modifications of functional groups in the 3DOM hydrogels result in various materials with programmed properties for a wide range of applications.

Highlights

  • Hydrogels are synthetic or natural polymer networks crosslinked either chemically or physically to maintain 3D structures that are able to absorb and retain large amounts of water.[1]

  • Macroporous hydrogels prepared by colloidal crystal templating have attracted much attention in recent years due to their unique structural features, holding immense promise as responsive materials for detection,[4] scaffolds for tissue engineering,[5] and absorbents for CO2 capture.[6]

  • The porous structures of 3D ordered macroporous (3DOM) hydrogels have not been definitively determined in many cases, which is largely due to the difficulty in morphological characterizations, and this has posed an obstacle to further precise studies

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Summary

Introduction

Hydrogels are synthetic or natural polymer networks crosslinked either chemically or physically to maintain 3D structures that are able to absorb and retain large amounts of water.[1]. We analyze the reversible 3DOM porous structures in colloidal crystal templated macroporous hydrogels through One focus of this work is the development of two novel methods for the characterization of 3DOM structures in hydrogels.

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