Engineering interfaces to enable a new generation of hybrid materials

水凝胶和固体材料的混合组合为组织工程支架和软机器等设备提供了高水平的功能。然而，水凝胶和固体之间的弱结合严重阻碍了它们的功能。该项目旨在开发多功能等离子体工艺，以促进选择的水凝胶和各种固体材料之间的强界面。预期的结果是一个绿色平台技术，用于模块化构建具有定制功能的先进固体水凝胶混合动力车；使结构软物质器件的设计和合成取得关键进展。该项目为澳大利亚从医疗到电子等高科技制造业带来了巨大的利益。

Hybrid combinations of hydrogel and solid materials allow a high level of functionality for devices such as tissue-engineering scaffolds and soft machines. However, the weak bonding between hydrogels and solids severely hampers their function. This project aims to develop versatile plasma processes that facilitate strong interfaces between hydrogels of choice and solid materials of all kinds. The expected outcome is a green platform technology for the modular construction of advanced solid-hydrogel hybrids with tailor-made functions; enabling critical advances in the design and synthesis of structured soft matter devices. The project offers significant benefits for Australian high-tech manufacturing industries from health to electronics.