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Molecular Engineering of Mesogenic Constituents Within Liquid Crystalline Elastomers to Sharpen Thermotropic Actuation
Author(s) -
McCracken Joselle M.,
Donovan Brian R.,
Lynch Kelsey M.,
White Timothy J.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202100564
Subject(s) - mesogen , thermotropic crystal , materials science , elastomer , monomer , liquid crystal , polymer , crystallinity , liquid crystalline , thermal stability , chemical engineering , side chain , polymer science , nanotechnology , composite material , optoelectronics , engineering
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE) are stimuli‐responsive materials with a distinguished mechanical response. LCE have been subject to numerous recent functional examinations in robotics, health sciences, and optics. The liquid crystallinity of the elastomeric polymer networks of LCE are largely derived from liquid crystalline monomer precursors. Recent reports have utilized commercially available liquid crystalline diacrylate monomers in chain extension reactions to prepare LCE. These reactions have been largely based on monomeric precursors originally to enhance the and thermal stability of optical films. Here, it is demonstrated that preparing LCE via a liquid crystalline diacrylate with reduced mesogen–mesogen interaction enhances and sharpens the thermotropic actuation of these materials. Robust composition‐response correlations are demonstrated in LCE prepared by three common synthetic methods. The enhanced thermotropic response of LCE prepared from this precursor increases the thermomechanical efficiency by sixfold. Accordingly, this work addresses important limitations in utilizing the thermal response of LCE in robotics, health care, and consumer goods.