
Our research group focusses on the design and synthesis of new polymer-based functional materials with application in 4D printing. Although a considerable amount of progress has been made in the field of 3D printing, most of techniques employed are limited to the fabrication of static objects. Incorporation of ‘life’ into the created 3D objects, also known as 4D printing, is essential for real-world applications. The additional dimension (time) refers to the ability of a 3D printed object to change its properties, such as shape or functionality, over time in a controlled fashion. To achieve this goal, our strategy relies on the development of novel adaptive printable materials, which are able to response to external stimuli on demand. In particular, we employ 3D printing techniques using light such as two-photon 3D laser printing and stereolithography.