Programmable material via thiol-ene polymerization initiated by electric-field induced thiyl radical on piezoelectric ZnO

Jun Wang, Zhao Wang, Jorge Ayarza, Ian Frankel, Chao-Wei Huang, Kai Qian, Yixiao Dong, Pin-Ruei Huang, Katie Kloska, Chao Zhang, Siqi Zou, Matthew Mason, Chong Liu, Nicholas Boechler and Aaron P. Esser-Kahn ()
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Jun Wang: University of Chicago
Zhao Wang: Soochow University
Jorge Ayarza: University of Chicago
Ian Frankel: University of California San Diego
Chao-Wei Huang: University of Chicago
Kai Qian: University of California San Diego
Yixiao Dong: University of Chicago
Pin-Ruei Huang: University of Chicago
Katie Kloska: University of Chicago
Chao Zhang: University of Chicago
Siqi Zou: University of Chicago
Matthew Mason: Princeton University
Chong Liu: University of Chicago
Nicholas Boechler: University of California San Diego
Aaron P. Esser-Kahn: University of Chicago

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The spatial and temporal control of material properties at a distance has yielded many unique innovations including photo-patterning, 3D-printing, and architected material design. To date, most of these innovations have relied on light, heat, sound, or electric current as stimuli for controlling the material properties. Here, we demonstrate that an electric field can induce chemical reactions and subsequent polymerization in composites via piezoelectrically-mediated transduction. The response to an electric field rather than through direct contact with an electrode is mediated by a nanoparticle transducer, i.e., piezoelectric ZnO, which mediates reactions between thiol and alkene monomers, resulting in tunable moduli as a function of voltage, time, and the frequency of the applied AC power. The reactivity of the mixture and the modulus of a naïve material containing these elements can be programmed based on the distribution of the electric field strength. This programmability results in multi-stiffness gels. Additionally, the system can be adjusted for the formation of an electro-adhesive. This simple and generalizable design opens avenues for facile application in adaptive damping and variable-rigidity materials, adhesive, soft robotics, and potentially tissue engineering.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64011-y

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