Speaker：Prof. Zi Liang Wu，Zhejiang University

Title: Programmed deformations and Processing of polymer hydrogels

Invited by Prof. Taolin Sun 

Time：Nov 19, 2019 (Tuesday 14：30 pm)

Venue: Lecture Room 324, AISMST (Building #2, KeJiYuan, North Campus)

Faculties and students are warmly welcome.

Abstract: 

Morphing materials have promising applications in biomedical devices, soft robotics, and flexible electronics. One fundamental task is to exploit new deformation modes and reveal the deformation mechanism. We use photolithography to pattern responsive polymers in a non-responsive hydrogel sheet with well-designed gradient structures. Complex deformations or shape transformations can be realized by tuning the patterns, hydrogels' properties, and sequential stimulations. In the second part of this presentation, we will talk about the designing and processing of tough hydrogels that are important for the practical applications of gel materials as flexible devices or artificial organs. We process tough physical hydrogels into desired structures by separating the toughening process from the polymerization. Complex gel structures can be fabricated by extrusion-based 3D printing technology. This concept and strategy should be applicable to other systems and merit designing of hydrogel-based actuators, scaffolds, etc.

Brief Biography：

Zi Liang Wu is a professor at the department of polymer science and engineering, Zhejiang University. He graduated from Zhejiang University in 2003, received his master degree from East China University of Science and Technology in 2006, and got his PhD degree from Hokkaido University. After being a postdoc fellow at Toronto University, Institut Curie, and Hokkaido University, he joined in Zhejiang University in 2013 as an assistant professor and became a professor in 2018. His research mainly focuses on designing and processing tough hydrogels, creating biomimetic and functional hydrogels, and controllable deformations of hydrogels. He has published more than 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals including Nat. Commun., Sci. Adv., Adv. Mater., and Macromolecules.