@article{LiuGouldRudolphetal.2020,
  author    = {Liu, Yue and Gould, Oliver E. C. and Rudolph, Tobias and Fang, Liang and Kratz, Karl and Lendlein, Andreas},
  title     = {Polymeric microcuboids programmable for temperature-memory},
  series = {Macromolecular materials and engineering},
  volume    = {305},
  journal   = {Macromolecular materials and engineering},
  number    = {10},
  publisher = {Wiley-VCH},
  address   = {Weinheim},
  issn      = {1438-7492},
  doi       = {10.1002/mame.202000333},
  pages     = {7},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Microobjects with programmable mechanical functionality are highly desirable for the creation of flexible electronics, sensors, and microfluidic systems, where fabrication/programming and quantification methods are required to fully control and implement dynamic physical behavior. Here, programmable microcuboids with defined geometries are prepared by a template-based method from crosslinked poly[ethylene-co-(vinyl acetate)] elastomers. These microobjects could be programmed to exhibit a temperature-memory effect or a shape-memory polymer actuation capability. Switching temperaturesT(sw)during shape recovery of 55 +/- 2, 68 +/- 2, 80 +/- 2, and 86 +/- 2 degrees C are achieved by tuning programming temperatures to 55, 70, 85, and 100 degrees C, respectively. Actuation is achieved with a reversible strain of 2.9 +/- 0.2\% to 6.7 +/- 0.1\%, whereby greater compression ratios and higher separation temperatures induce a more pronounced actuation. Micro-geometry change is quantified using optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The realization and quantification of microparticles, capable of a tunable temperature responsive shape-change or reversible actuation, represent a key development in the creation of soft microscale devices for drug delivery or microrobotics.},
  language  = {en}
}