Microfabrication Using Shape‐Transforming Soft Materials

Abstract

Abstract The fabrication of hollow and multicomponent micro‐objects with complex inner structures using state‐of‐the‐art subtractive, formative, and additive manufacturing technologies is challenging. Controlled shape transformation offers a very elegant solution to this challenge. While shape transformations on macroscale can be achieved using either manual or automatic manipulation, shape transformations on microscale can better be realized using shape‐changing polymers such as hydrogels, shape‐memory polymers, liquid crystalline elastomers, and others. This review discusses the properties of different classes of shape‐changing materials, the principle of shape transformation, possibilities to achieve complex shape transformation, as well as applications of shape‐changing materials in microfabrication and other fields.