Gel-to-gel transition of a liquid-crystalline hydrogel consisting of inorganic nanosheets and water

Abstract

Various biomimetic soft materials with structural hierarchies and stimuli responsiveness have been developed from organic materials. However, the creation of their counterparts consisting entirely of inorganic materials is challenging because the properties of such materials generally differ from those of living organisms. Here, we report thermally induced gel-to-gel transition of a liquid-crystalline hydrogel consisting of inorganic nanosheets and water. Since this transition accompanied internal structural changes, the optical and mechanical properties of the hydrogel changed reversibly and rapidly like sea cucumbers. By using a photothermal-conversion agent, this transition became operable spatiotemporally on photoirradiation.