Master's thesis: Swelling-Driven Actuators from Self-Healing Cellulose-Based 3D Materials

At TechMark Arena 2026 – a master thesis school at RISE.

About Digital Cellulose Center (DCC)
Digital Cellulose Center (DCC) is a VINNOVA competence center with the vision of establishing an internationally competitive research environment. The environment provides expertise and infrastructure for industry-driven, excellent R&D in the area of digital cellulose-based products, which aims to make products an integrated part of the future sustainable, digital society and contribute to growth for Swedish industry. With DCC as a hub between industry and academia, Sweden has a leading role in bringing together research and industry and creating value for a sustainable society.

Background
Cellulose-based smart materials are rapidly emerging as sustainable alternatives for next-generation functional devices. Their abundance, biocompatibility, and tunable chemistry make them ideal candidates for environmentally friendly actuators capable of responding to external stimuli such as moisture, pH, or ionic strength.

In this project, we focus on developing swelling-driven 3D actuators based on cellulose-rich structures composed of multiple components exhibiting self-healing ability. By combining materials with distinct swelling behaviors and engineering gradients into the 3D architecture, the final constructs are expected to convert environmental changes into controlled motion.

The project builds on advances in dynamic covalent chemistry, hydrogel design, and 3D structuring of biobased networks. The work aligns with the DCC vision by pushing cellulose-based materials beyond structural applications into responsive, programmable functionalities suitable for future soft robotics, environmental sensors, and adaptive devices.

Project research topics

• How can cellulose be used in developing dynamic networks with self-healing ability?

• How can cellulose-based dynamic materials be combined into multi-component structures using self-healing chemistry?

• How do spatial gradients of swelling capacity influence the bending, twisting, or expansion behavior of the final 3D construct?

• What design principles allow predictable actuation across different media (e.g., water, ionic solutions, humidity)?

Project activities

1. Literature Survey
   Review state-of-the-art swelling-driven actuators, cellulose-based hydrogels, self-healing materials, and dynamic covalent networks.

2. Material Preparation and Characterization

   • Fabricate cellulose-based components with distinct swelling behaviors.

   • Characterize swelling kinetics, mechanical properties, and self-healing efficiency.

3. Design and Fabrication of 3D Structured Actuators

   • Build multi-phase architectures with tailored swelling gradients.

   • Explore possible manufacturing approaches.

4. Actuation Studies in Different Media

   • Evaluate performance in water, buffer systems, and varying humidity conditions.

5. Report Writing

   • Compile results into the final master thesis.

Student profile
Background in polymer chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, bio-based materials, soft matter physics, or related fields.

Interest in hydrogels, cellulose materials, actuators, dynamic covalent chemistry, or responsive materials.

Location and start date
Main location: Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology

RISE, location KTH campus

Start date: latest 19th of January

Supervisory team

Taha Behroozi Kohlan, KTH

Andreas Fall, RISE

Interested?
Send in your application no later than December 19h. Selection and interviews may be conducted on an ongoing basis during the application period.