Programmable and Reconfigurable Liquid Crystal Elastomers: Synthesis, Alignment and Actuation
발표자
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초록
내용
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are emerging smart materials featured by reversible and programmable actuation. To enable such actuating property, a proper chemistry that can couple with LCE alignment process is essential. Here, the preparation of macroscopically aligned LCE monoliths through various synthetic strategies (e.g., Michael-addition and photopolymerization) and alignment methods (e.g., surface, mechanical and shear alignment) will be presented. With these strategies, we successfully demonstrate various programmable (and reprogrammable) actuation of LCEs commanded by heat as well as humidity. Our work can expand opportunities for structural design and functionality of LCEs, and expedite their potential applications for soft-robotics, adaptive textiles, and responsive surfaces.