Akihiko Kikuchi

Papers

Total Citations

123

H-Index

About

Akihiko Kikuchi has pioneered the intersection of photochemistry and smart materials, with a core focus on developing stimuli-responsive hydrogels and actuators. His major contribution lies in engineering "photo-switchable" systems that harness light to trigger chemical reactions, enabling precise, remote control over material behavior. His most cited work (2012, 123 citations) introduced a groundbreaking approach to reversible self-bending actuators by integrating o-nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA) into bilayer hydrogels. This design leverages a photo-triggered pH jump reaction—where UV light induces proton release from NBA—to drive rapid, reversible shape changes in poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) bilayers. This innovation bridges photochemistry and soft robotics, offering a non-contact method for actuation with potential in microfluidics and biomedical devices. Kikuchi's research has significantly advanced the field of intelligent materials, demonstrating how light can be used as a clean, spatiotemporally precise stimulus to control mechanical responses. His work continues to inspire new generations of chemists and engineers exploring adaptive, energy-efficient systems.