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Reversible Infrared Actuation of Carbon Nanotube–Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Yang Liqiang,
Setyowati Kristina,
Li An,
Gong Shaoqin,
Chen Jian
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.200702953
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , carbon nanotube , elastomer , liquid crystal , polymer , isotropy , infrared , thermal conduction , nanotube , thermal , nanoscopic scale , polymer nanocomposite , nanotechnology , composite material , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , optics , thermodynamics , physics , engineering
Nanocomposite films comprising polymer‐functionalized single‐walled carbon‐nanotubes (SWNTs) and liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) show a reversible IR‐induced strain (∼−30%) at very low SWNT loading levels (≤0.2 wt%). SWNTs can efficiently transform absorbed IR light into thermal energy, thereby serving as a nanoscale heat‐source and thermal‐ conduction pathway. The absorbed thermal‐energy induced a nematic– isotropic phase‐transition, generating a shape change in the nanocomposite film.