A new study by Cluster Doctoral Researchers Chantal Barwig, Malin Schmidt, Annabelle Sonn, Scientist Irene Wacker, as well as Principal Investigators Rasmus R. Schröder and Christine Selhuber-Unkel, explores a new type of microscale actuator made from soft, responsive hydrogels. These actuators can switch between two stable states without continuous energy input, a property known as bistability. The team created 3D microstructures that can be precisely controlled using two-photon polymerization by combining thermoresponsive and light-responsive components. This innovation opens new opportunities for energy-efficient soft robotics, biomedical applications, and reconfigurable microfluidic systems.
©Barwig et al., Adv. Intell. Syst. 2025, CC BY