| Abstract |
Stimuli responsive hydrogels are prepared from inexpensive, locally available
renewable resources, coupled with highly specific and strong reversible binding
motifs. Herein, ultra-high water content cellulosic hydrogels were reported as an
aqueous photorheological fluid (PRF), whose rheological properties can be
easily modulated via light irradiation. This cellulose-based PRF can undergo a
UV-triggered rapid transition from a highly viscous and rigid gel into a
Newtonian-like fluid, with a decrease in zero-shear viscosity of over two orders
of magnitude. Moreover, the rate of viscosity reduction of these PRFs can be
tuned based on the mixture composition and duration of photoirradiation. |