Fabrication of Self-Oscillating Gels by Polymer Crosslinking Method and Analysis on Their Autonomous Swelling-Deswelling Behaviors

We have developed a new methodology for fabricating self-oscillating gels by a post-polymerization crosslinking. The method enables us to make the self-oscillating gels easily just by mixing two kinds of polymer solutions at room temperature with fast gelation. Moreover, the polymer crosslinking method has the advantage that the self-oscillating gels could be fabricated from well-defined linear polymers. We revealed that the dynamic swelling-deswelling behavior of the gels was simply affected by the net amount of the catalyst for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction in the whole gels, although the equilibrium swelling behavior was influenced by the properties of the constituent linear polymers. Our results offer the opportunity to access the origin of the dynamic and equilibrium behavior of materials by the hierarchical assembly as well as enable easy microfabrication of the self-oscillating gel.

Automated summary

We have developed a new method for fabricating self-oscillating gels through post-polymerization crosslinking. This method allows for easy fabrication of self-oscillating gels by simply mixing two polymer solutions at room temperature, resulting in fast gelation. Additionally, by utilizing the polymer crosslinking method, the self-oscillating gels can be made from well-defined linear polymers. Our findings showed that the dynamic swelling-deswelling behavior of the gels is primarily influenced by the net amount of catalyst used in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction, while the equilibrium swelling behavior is affected by the properties of the constituent linear polymers. This research provides valuable insights into the dynamic and equilibrium behavior of materials, and also offers a convenient method for microfabrication of self-oscillating gels.