Open AccessSurface‐Enforced Alignment of Reprogrammable Liquid Crystalline Elastomers
Author(s) -
Hebner Tayler S.,
Kirkpatrick Bruce E.,
Anseth Kristi S.,
Bowman Christopher N.,
White Timothy J.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202204003
Subject(s) - covalent bond , elastomer , materials science , liquid crystal , polymer , liquid crystalline , deformation (meteorology) , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , organic chemistry , optoelectronics
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli‐responsive materials capable of undergoing large deformations. The thermomechanical response of LCEs is attributable to the coupling of polymer network properties and disruption of order between liquid crystalline mesogens. Complex deformations have been realized in LCEs by either programming the nematic director via surface‐enforced alignment or localized mechanical deformation in materials incorporating dynamic covalent chemistries. Here, the preparation of LCEs via thiol‐Michael addition reaction is reported that are amenable to surface‐enforced alignment. Afforded by the thiol‐Michael addition reaction, dynamic covalent bonds are uniquely incorporated in chemistries subject to surface‐enforce alignment. Accordingly, LCEs prepared with complex director profiles are able to be programmed and reprogrammed by (re)activating the dynamic covalent chemistry to realize distinctive shape transformations.