2D materials exposed to light could transform into 3D objects

The work, funded by a grant worth approximately $1.76m (£1.11m) over four years from the US National Science Foundation (NSF), is inspired by origami and is claimed to have a broad range of potential applications.

‘We’re pulling together a diverse team of designers, engineers and mathematicians to advance our understanding of how to manipulate photoresponsive materials,’ said Dr Jan Genzer, Celanese professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at NC State and the primary investigator under the NSF grant. ‘Ultimately, we hope to develop new techniques that have applications ranging from electronics to high-volume manufacturing to the delivery of humanitarian relief.’

According to a statement, the researchers plan to use experiments and computational models to evaluate the folding process in order to develop new multi-functional 3D structures that can form rapidly while retaining precise control over their shape.

Because the patterns will be on 2D materials, the process should be compatible with high-throughput patterning techniques, such as roll-to-roll patterning used in electronics manufacturing.