Self-Elongation of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fibers
발표자
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초록
내용
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are promising smart materials due to their programmable and reversible actuation in response to various external stimuli. Recently, there has been significant interest in LCE fibers for applications in smart textiles, as they offer scalable production, rapid actuation, and versatile shaping. Previously reported LCE fibers exhibit contraction upon heating, resulting from the alignment of LC polymer chains. In this work, we present unprecedented self-elongation (~30%) of LCE fibers upon heating which are produced from the continuous extrusion of LC oligomer followed by photopolymerization. The self-elongation phenomenon arises from the unique alignment of LC polymer chains. The chemical structure of LC monomers and the type of winding substrate play critical roles in determining the alignment direction of the LCE fibers. Our work opens up potential for the development of shape-shifting materials and expands the design of LCE fibers in smart textiles.