Prapatsorn Techawanitchai

National Institute for Materials Science

Papers

Total Citations

123

H-Index

About

Dr. Prapatsorn Techawanitchai is a leading figure in the development of smart, stimuli-responsive materials, with a primary focus on photo-switchable hydrogels and actuators. Her most influential work, the 2012 paper "Photo-switchable control of pH-responsive actuators via pH jump reaction" (123 citations), introduced a groundbreaking method for fabricating reversible self-bending actuators. By integrating o-nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA), a photo-initiated proton-releasing agent, into bilayer hydrogels composed of a polyacid layer and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid), she demonstrated precise, remote control over material shape-shifting using light. This innovation bypasses the need for direct chemical triggers, enabling rapid, spatiotemporal actuation. Dr. Techawanitchai’s contributions have significantly advanced the fields of soft robotics and biomedical devices, where non-invasive, light-driven control is critical. Her work continues to inspire new approaches in adaptive materials, earning her recognition as a pioneer in photo-responsive hydrogel engineering.