Shape-Changing Particles: From Materials Design and Mechanisms to Implementation

Demands for next-generation soft and responsive materials have sparked recent interest in the development of shape-changing particles and particle assemblies. Over the last two decades, a variety of mechanisms that drive shape change have been explored and integrated into particulate systems. Through a combination of top-down fabrication and bottom-up synthesis techniques, shape-morphing capabilities extend from the microscale to the nanoscale. Consequently, shape-morphing particles are rapidly emerging in a variety of contexts, including photonics, microfluidics, microrobotics, and biomedicine. Herein, the key mechanisms and materials that facilitate shape changes of microscale and nanoscale particles are discussed. Recent progress in the applications made possible by these particles is summarized, and perspectives on their promise and key open challenges in the field are discussed.

Automated summary

The demand for next-generation soft and responsive materials has led to a growing interest in the development of shape-changing particles and assemblies. Various mechanisms for shape change have been explored and integrated into particulate systems, extending from microscale to nanoscale capabilities. The emerging use of shape-morphing particles in photonics, microfluidics, microrobotics, and biomedicine is discussed, along with recent progress and challenges in the field.