Questions on theoretical hydrogel mineralization methodology.
[reposting from r/AskChemistry on recommendation]
Hey folks. I am not educated in these matters, so apologies if any of these questions are silly, but I have some ideas stuck in my head that I want to explore, and I'm looking for a little guidance.
I've been reading about this method for a 3d manufacturing process that prints a hydrogel "blank" using photopolymerization, and then infuses the blank with metal ions to create a solid. I was wondering if that process could theoretically be accelerated electrochemically.
Long question semi-short; does it seem possible to create an appropriate electrolytic fluid containing either metal nanoparticles or dissolved ions which is then mixed with a gelling agent (agar, alginate, chitosan, or gelatin), formed into a desired shape, then placed as the cathode in a solution and attached to a current to draw metal ions into the hydrogel matrix?
I'm basically imagining a little hydrogel bead of lets say copper acetate. If that bead was attached to the end of a wire and dipped in a solution of more copper acetate and more copper for an anode, could the electrolytic reaction theoretically be tuned in such a way as to turn the hydrogel bead into a mostly pure copper sphere?
Again, thanks for your indulgence with this theory. I'd appreciate any insights or suggestions for further research. My goal here is just to investigate the validity of the concept, and if doing it with simple, form-cast shapes is possible I want to see about applying it to more complex 3d shapes formed in hydrogel via photopolymerization as described in the linked paper above.
Cheers, and thanks again!