Programmable adhesion using nonlinear kirigami structures

A method of fabricating a reusable adhesive system with programmable adhesive properties for directional releasable adhesion to target surfaces in one or more peeling directions comprising:

• a. providing a continuous strip structure comprising a flexible relatively inextensible layer with or without a relatively elastic layer on one side configured for direct releasable, reusable adhesion to target surfaces, the strip structure having a length along a longitudinal axis between front and reverse opposite ends, a width along a lateral axis between opposite lateral edges, and a thickness between opposite sides;
• b. determining a desired adhesion strength spatially along the strip structure,
• c. programming the desired adhesion properties spatially into the strip structure by creating alternating patterned cut and unpatterned regions along the length of the strip by, in each patterned cut region, making a cut through the thickness of the strip structure in at least one sub-region between opposite lateral edges of the strip structure, the cut being non-linear relative the lateral axis between the opposite lateral edges of the strip and including:
• i. opposite cut termination points along a hinge line;
• and
• ii. an intermediate non-linear cut section between the opposite cut termination points that does not cross the hinge line between opposite termination points of the cut;
• iii. the opposite cut termination points and the intermediate non-linear cut section defining a flap area;
• iv. the non-linear cut having a size, shape, and position dependent on type of material of the strip structure, the length, width, and thickness of the strip structure, and the adhesive properties of each of the at least one sub-region relative to the one or more peeling directions.