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<p>Living systems encode environmental history into material structure, enabling adaptive response thresholds, a capability lacking in synthetic materials with fixed thermal transitions. We present a thermodynamic approach that programs critical transition temperatures in polymer networks via salt-dependent thermal plasticity. Conditioning poly(vinyl propional) hydrogels at a swelling temperature <i>T</i><sub>s</sub> in Hofmeister-modulated media embeds thermal and saline history into equilibrium water content, which then dictates superheating-mediated nucleation upon heating. Two synergistic mechanisms: temperature-dependent miscibility encodes memory via adaptive swelling, while network elasticity gates nucleation barriers, giving <i>T</i><sub>c</sub> = <i>T</i><sub>s</sub> + Δ<i>T</i>, where Δ<i>T</i> is set by thermal history and salt identity. Structural characterization reveals a hierarchical architecture of tight physical crosslinks and loose co-evolving domains, offering a universal design rule for history-responsive materials. We demonstrate reprogrammable freeze-exposure indicators for vaccine cold-chain monitoring to quantify sub-zero breach severity and duration. This work establishes intelligent matter capable of autonomous sensing, memory, and adaptive actuation.</p>

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Elasticity-gated thermal plasticity via superheating-mediated nucleation and growth in polymer networks

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月25日

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  • Guye Wei,
  • Jiageng Pan,
  • Shunjie Mo,
  • Jian Liao,
  • Liang Gao

摘要

Living systems encode environmental history into material structure, enabling adaptive response thresholds, a capability lacking in synthetic materials with fixed thermal transitions. We present a thermodynamic approach that programs critical transition temperatures in polymer networks via salt-dependent thermal plasticity. Conditioning poly(vinyl propional) hydrogels at a swelling temperature Ts in Hofmeister-modulated media embeds thermal and saline history into equilibrium water content, which then dictates superheating-mediated nucleation upon heating. Two synergistic mechanisms: temperature-dependent miscibility encodes memory via adaptive swelling, while network elasticity gates nucleation barriers, giving Tc = Ts + ΔT, where ΔT is set by thermal history and salt identity. Structural characterization reveals a hierarchical architecture of tight physical crosslinks and loose co-evolving domains, offering a universal design rule for history-responsive materials. We demonstrate reprogrammable freeze-exposure indicators for vaccine cold-chain monitoring to quantify sub-zero breach severity and duration. This work establishes intelligent matter capable of autonomous sensing, memory, and adaptive actuation.