Multi-stimuli Responsive Polyurethane-based Materials: Structure-Property Correlations

Yi-Sheng Huang; Han-Xin Jian; Hao Huang; Qing-Yun Guo; Shu-Guang Yang

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3757-8

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Multi-stimuli Responsive Polyurethane-based Materials: Structure-Property Correlations

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-07-22

- Multi-stimuli Responsive Polyurethane-based Materials: Structure-Property Correlations
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Pages: 1-13(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fibers Materials, Center for Advanced Low-dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
- Author bio：
  
  guoqy@dhu.edu.cn (Q.Y.G.)
  shgyang@dhu.edu.cn (S.G.Y.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3757-8
  CLC：
- Received：20 April 2026，
  
  Accepted：27 May 2026，
  
  Online First：22 July 2026，
  
  Published：2026-06
- Accepted：
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Huang, Y. S.; Jian, H. X.; Huang, H.; Guo, Q. Y.; Yang, S. G. Multi-stimuli responsive polyurethane-based materials: structure-property correlations. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3757-8

Yi-Sheng Huang, Han-Xin Jian, Hao Huang, et al. Multi-stimuli Responsive Polyurethane-based Materials: Structure-Property Correlations[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-13.
Huang, Y. S.; Jian, H. X.; Huang, H.; Guo, Q. Y.; Yang, S. G. Multi-stimuli responsive polyurethane-based materials: structure-property correlations. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3757-8 DOI：

Yi-Sheng Huang, Han-Xin Jian, Hao Huang, et al. Multi-stimuli Responsive Polyurethane-based Materials: Structure-Property Correlations[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-13. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3757-8.

摘要

Abstract

Heat-

light-

and humidity-responsive materials were fabricated

via

chemical design and cold drawing processing. The crystallizable polyether/polyester diols were first reacted with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)

followed by chain extension with azobenzene units. The synthesized polyurethanes exhibited ductile behavior and drawing-induced orientation when the soft segments possessed high crystallinity. Upon heating or UV irradiation

the oriented polyurethane strips underwent bending

whereas the pristine strips did not. Under humid conditions

both oriented and pristine polyurethane strips containing poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) soft segments bent

albeit in opposite directions. In contrast

polyurethane strips with polycaprolactone (PCL) and polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) soft segments showed no response to humidity

regardless of whether they were stretched. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the temperature increase resulting from the photothermal effect of the azobenzene moieties is the main reason for light-induced actuation

which differ

s from that in many other azobenzene-based materials. The entropic elastic energy stored during stretching is released upon UV irradiation

heating

or humidification to drive the bending deformation. This work presents a strategy for constructing multi-stimuli- responsive materials

via

molecular design and post-processing

highlighting the synergy between functional moieties and microscopic structures

which holds great significance for the development of advanced intelligent materials.

关键词

Keywords

references

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