Drum Tower-Inspired Kirigami Structures for Rapid Fabrication of Multifunctional Shape-Memory Smart Devices with Complex and Rigid 3D Geometry in a Two-Stage Photopolymer

Mechanically robust shape-morphing materials that can transform from miniaturization into complex structures are highly desirable for real-world device applications. However, fabricating mechanically robust yet geometrically complex 3D shape-morphing structures with excellent functionality and high load-bearing capacity remains a challenge. Inspired by drum tower buildings, a simple, rapid, and universal method is presented for fabricating multifunctional shape-memory smart devices with complex and rigid 3D kirigami geometry in the two-stage epoxy-amine-acrylate photopolymer systems. In the first-stage reaction, transparent polymer films with a T g of 29–49 °C are obtained by the epoxy-amine chemistry. The shape-memory programming process allows the first-stage film with a drum tower-inspired 2D kirigami pattern to be manipulated into an unsupported 3D structure. In the second-stage reaction, UV-induced free-radical polymerization of methacrylate groups in the first-stage network is employed to rapidly lock the programmed 3D kirigami structure with a T g of 66–138 °C. The drum tower-inspired 3D kirigami structure withstands 1000 times its own weight. The shape memory fluorescent 3D device and shape memory electronic 3D device are engineered by combining the two-stage photopolymer system and a 3D kirigami structure. This work represents a versatile method to create multifunctional shape-memory devices with rigid 3D geometry for potential applications.