journal article·2026-06-16

Physical Anchoring‐Assisted Mechanically Guided Assembly for Material‐Independent 3D Mesostructures

Yeonhee Heo, Pei Liu, Jeongmin Yoo, Jae Hyuk Hwang, Gooyoon Chung, Dong‐Gyun Kim, Raudel Avila, Yoonseok Park

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Mechanically guided 3D assembly has emerged as a powerful approach for constructing complex mesostructures, but conventional strategies rely on selective chemical bonding between 2D precursors and elastomeric substrates, restricting material compatibility and scalability. Here, we introduce a physical anchoring‐based, buckling‐guided assembly platform that decouples 3D structure formation from chemical adhesion. The platform employs an elastomeric substrate patterned with an array of rods to achieve robust mechanical fixation, enabling the integration of diverse functional materials, including polymers, metals, water‐soluble polymers, and stimuli‐responsive systems, independent of their interfacial or mechanical properties. Oxygen plasma surface treatment further reduces adhesion, allowing reliable assembly of freestanding and large‐area architectures. As a proof‐of‐concept, we integrate liquid crystalline networks (LCNs) to demonstrate light‐responsive soft robotic systems capable of remote actuation. This physically anchored assembly strategy establishes a general and scalable framework for mesoscale fabrication, expanding material and geometric design freedom for applications in soft robotics, bioelectronics, and multi‐material integration.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Materials and Mechanics · Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

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Affiliations

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Kyung Hee University Yongin Republic of Korea

Department of Mechanical Engineering Rice University Houston Texas USA

Advanced Materials Division Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Daejeon Republic of Korea

Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering KRICT School University of Science and Technology Daejeon Republic of Korea

Rice Advanced Materials Institute Rice University Houston Texas USA

Digital Health Institute Rice University Houston Texas USA

Kyung Hee University Seoul Republic of Korea

Funding

Kyung Hee University

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