Researchers at Tampere University have recently demonstrated that light can be used to precisely reshape soft materials without mechanical contact. They have developed light-responsive hydrogel thin films that enable programmable surfaces with high sensitivity, rapid response, precise spatial control and reversibility. The technology opens new possibilities for tunable devices in photonics, sensing and biomedicine.
Until now, responses in hydrogel films have typically been limited to timescales of tens of seconds and spatial resolutions of tens of micrometers—about the thickness of a fine human hair—restricting practical applications. In contrast, the university’s Smart Photonic Materials research group has achieved control on sub-second timescales and sub-micron resolution, marking a significant advance in speed and precision. The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
Light-responsive hydrogels are particularly attractive for mimicking dynamic microstructures found in nature. The materials absorb and release water when exposed to light, enabling accurate and remote actuation in lightweight structures. Such properties are well suited for applications including soft micro-robots, remote drug delivery systems and active cell culture platforms.
