Reprogrammable 3D Mesostructures Through Compressive Buckling of Thin Films with Prestrained Shape Memory Polymer

Abstract

The mechanically guided assembly that relies on the compressive buckling of strategically patterned 2D thin films represents a robust route to complex 3D mesostructures in advanced materials and even functional micro-devices. Based on this approach, formation of complex 3D configurations with suspended curvy features or hierarchical geometries remains a challenge. In this paper, we incorporate the prestrained shape memory polymer in the 2D precursor design to enable local rolling deformations after the mechanical assembly through compressive buckling. A theoretical model captures quantitatively the effect of key design parameters on local rolling deformations. The combination of precisely controlled global buckling and local rolling expands substantially the range of accessible 3D configurations. The combined experimental and theoretical studies over a dozen of examples demonstrate the utility of the proposed strategy in achieving complex reprogrammable 3D mesostructures.