Complex and Stable Capillary Origami Structures through Adhesion

Capillary origami has had great success in offering a solution to nondestructively create bends, folds, and wrinkles in even the thinnest of polymer films. However, to achieve the full potential of origami designs with capillary-driven assembly, methods to create stable and multi-step structures need to be explored. Our research incorporates adhesion into the existing methods for capillary origami to give the researcher the opportunity to bend, crease, and unfold thin films in a manner similar to the multi-step procedures needed to create classic origami models. Tuning film-film and film-substrate adhesion values creates a versatile handle that can be used to precisely place desired features in a thin film system. Bending plays an integral role in the peeling process, which we map out in an experimental state diagram which highlights how ‘directional’ adhesion allows more precise peeling control. Capillary origami techniques can then be used to physically move the film to the desired position, facilitating both the folding and unfolding processes. Repetition of this process allows for the creation of multi-step, folded designs that are not otherwise possible.