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A Novel Side‐Chain Liquid Crystal Elastomer Exhibiting Anomalous Reversible Shape Change
Author(s) -
Yin Lu,
Han Li,
Ge Feijie,
Tong Xia,
Zhang Wei,
Soldera Armand,
Zhao Yue
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202003904
Subject(s) - isotropy , liquid crystal , side chain , materials science , elastomer , phase transition , mesogen , phase (matter) , chemical physics , polymer , relaxation (psychology) , perpendicular , liquid crystalline , shape change , crystallography , composite material , condensed matter physics , chemistry , organic chemistry , optics , optoelectronics , physics , geometry , psychology , social psychology , mathematics , evolutionary biology , biology
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have been actively investigated as stimuli‐controlled actuators and soft robots. The basis of these applications is the ability of LCEs to undergo a reversible shape change upon a liquid crystalline (LC)‐isotropic phase transition. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel LCE based on a side‐chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP). In contrast to known LCEs, this LCE exhibits a striking anomalous shape change. Subjecting a mechanically stretched monodomain strip to LC‐disorder phase transition, both the length and width of the strip contract in isotropic phase, and both elongate in LC phase. This thermally induced behaviour is the result of a subtle interplay between the relaxation of polymer main chain oriented along the stretching direction and the disordering of side‐group mesogens oriented perpendicularly to the stretching direction. This finding points out potential design of LCEs of this peculiar type and possible applications to exploit.