Data from research to develop alginate/vermiculite composite hydrogels for 4D printing

This work presents a 4D-printable hydrogel based on sodium alginate (SA) amalgamated with calcium ion-infused 2D vermiculite sheets (CaV), which allows in-situ physical crosslinking. The resultant hydrogels exhibit notable gel-like behavior and substantially enhanced rheological characteristics and 3D printability, leading to printed constructs with excellent shape fidelity and mechanical properties. The successful printing of various structures like grids, flower models, and cylindrical shapes was demonstrated. Furthermore, the 3D-printed structures manifest appealing shape-morphing capabilities, transitioning from a planar configuration into tubular or folded forms within seconds to minutes, with morphing speed tunable via solvent treatments. This work provides insights into the development of biopolymer-based functional hydrogels for 4D printing.The data from this research include:TEM images of 2D vermiculite sheets prepared by the ion exchange method in this projectDemonstration of the 3D printability of composite hydrogels (SA-CaV) developed in this projectRheological properties of composite hydrogels (SA-CaV) developed in this projectCompression test results of 3D-printed cylindrical samples made from SA-CaV composite hydrogelsSEM images of 2D vermiculite sheets prepared by the ion exchange method in this projectShape morphing results of a 3D-printed grid model using the composite hydrogelsShape morphing results of a 3D-printed flower model using the composite hydrogelsShape morphing video demonstration of composite hydrogels (SA-CaV) developed in this projectStability test results of 3D printed composite hydrogels in PBS solutionSEM images and EDX elemental mapping results of 3D printed SA-CaV composite hydrogels本研究提出一种可4D打印的水凝胶体系：以海藻酸钠（sodium alginate，SA）为基体，与负载钙离子的二维蛭石片（calcium ion-infused 2D vermiculite sheets，CaV）共混，可实现原位物理交联。所得水凝胶展现出优异的类凝胶行为，流变性能与3D打印适配性均得到显著提升，由此制备的打印构件具备出色的形状保真度与力学性能。本研究证实该体系可成功打印网格、花朵模型、圆柱等多种结构。 此外，3D打印构件展现出优异的形状变形能力：可在数秒至数分钟内从平面构型转变为管状或折叠结构，且变形速度可通过溶剂处理进行调控。本研究为面向4D打印的生物基功能水凝胶开发提供了重要参考。 本研究产生的数据集包含以下内容： 1. 本研究通过离子交换法制备的二维蛭石片（2D vermiculite sheets）的透射电子显微镜（Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM）图像 2. 本研究制备的SA-CaV复合水凝胶的3D打印性能演示数据 3. 本研究制备的SA-CaV复合水凝胶的流变性能数据 4. 采用SA-CaV复合水凝胶打印的圆柱试样的压缩测试结果 5. 本研究通过离子交换法制备的二维蛭石片的扫描电子显微镜（Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM）图像 6. 采用该复合水凝胶打印的网格模型的形状变形测试结果 7. 采用该复合水凝胶打印的花朵模型的形状变形测试结果 8. 本研究制备的SA-CaV复合水凝胶的形状变形视频演示资料 9. 3D打印的复合水凝胶在磷酸盐缓冲液（Phosphate Buffered Saline, PBS）中的稳定性测试结果 10. 3D打印的SA-CaV复合水凝胶的扫描电子显微镜图像与能量色散X射线光谱（Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, EDX）元素面分布成像结果