<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Photopolymerisation is a light-driven directional solidification process that converts a liquid monomer into a solid polymer network. Under conditions of strong optical attenuation and limited mass and heart transfer, travelling solidification fronts emerge [1], both stable and unstable. In this talk, I will discuss this 'frontal photopolymerisation' (FPP) process, with a combination of experiments, analytical and numerical modelling [1-3]. Some non-trivial aspects of FPP derive from the coupling of light attenuation and front propagation, which enables precise control of the profile of the asymmetric networks normal to the interface, i.e. along the direction of light propagation. While travelling fronts can be planar – which is beneficial in 2D and 3D printing – a range of interfacial instabilities can be triggered and exploited technologically. Further, we find that coupling of diffusion‐evaporation and swelling‐shrinkage processes in such asymmetric networks can lead to dynamic curvature fluctuations in otherwise planar materials, even in the absence of spatial patterning, employed in spontaneous FPP origami [4-6]. Building on this asymmetric response, we demonstrate the fabrication of autonomous bistable switches, self‐propulsion and assembly of 3D shapes.</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><u>Selected references:</u></strong></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Frontal Photopolymerisation (FPP)</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[1] Cabral et al. Frontal photopolymerization for microfluidic applications, Langmuir 20,10020–10029 (2004); Propagating waves of network formation induced by light, Polymer 46 (12), 4230-4241 (2005)</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[2] Vitale et al. A Unified Approach for Patterning via Frontal Photopolymerization, Adv. Mater 27, 6118-6124 (2015); Interfacial profile and propagation of frontal photopolymerization waves, Macromolecules 48, 198-205 (2015)</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[3] Hennessy et al. Controlling frontal photopolymerization with optical attenuation and mass diffusion, Phys. Rev. E 91 (6), 062402 (2015); Role of heat generation and thermal diffusion during frontal photopolymerization, Phys. Rev. E 92, 022403 (2015)</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dynamics & Fluctuations in FPP</strong></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[5] Ridwan et al. Fluctuating Curvature and Actuation in 4D Printed Asymmetric Networks by Frontal Photopolymerization, Adv Mater Interf, e00879 (2026);</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[6] Ridwan et al. Curvature Dynamics of PEGDA Asymmetric Networks via Frontal Photopolymerization: Effect of Chain Length and Optical Attenuation, Macromolecules 59, 1978-1986 (2026);</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[7] Ridwan et al. "Curvature fluctuations of asymmetric photopolymerised networks: impact of solvent-mediated interfacial exchanges" (under review)</span></p><p><br></p>