In a new Cluster publication, Doctoral Researchers Johannes Markhart, Philipp Mainik, Pia S. Klee, and Principal Investigator Eva Blasco demonstrate a novel 4D printing concept based on self-immolative polymers. The researchers show that, when exposed to a chemical trigger, 3D-printed structures can shrink and regrow reversibly due to rapid depolymerization and subsequent repolymerization within the material. These transformations occur at room temperature, enabling the printed object to regain much of its original shape and mechanical properties. This study broadens the possibilities of dynamic material programming in additive manufacturing and illustrates how chemical control can introduce reversible functionality into 4D-printed systems.
© Markhart et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 2025, e20642, CC BY