Nature provides a vast array of solid materials that repeatedly and reversibly transform in shape in response to environmental variations. This property is essential, for example, for new energy-saving technologies, efficient collection of solar radiation, and thermal management. Here we report a similar shape-morphing mechanism using differential swelling of hydrophilic polyelectrolyte multila...

A new series of biomimetic stimuli-responsive nanocomposites, which change their mechanical properties upon exposure to physiological conditions, was prepared and investigated. The materials were produced by introducing percolating networks of cellulose nanofibers or "whiskers" derived from tunicates into poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA), and blends of these polymers,...

the surface properties of tio2-pvdf nanocomposite membranes were investigated by incorporating different chemically modified tio2 nanoparticles into the poly (vinylidene fluoride) (pvdf) matrix. the nanocomposite membranes were prepared via dual coagulation bath diffusion and the induced phase inversion method. the membrane surface morphologies were investigated by using sem and afm and related...