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Non‐Uniform Optical Inscription of Actuation Domains in a Liquid Crystal Polymer of Uniaxial Orientation: An Approach to Complex and Programmable Shape Changes
Author(s) -
Yang Rong,
Zhao Yue
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201709528
Subject(s) - morphing , materials science , liquid crystal , orientation (vector space) , polymer , shape change , polymerization , crystal (programming language) , composite material , optics , geometry , optoelectronics , computer science , physics , artificial intelligence , evolutionary biology , biology , programming language , mathematics
Achieving complex shape change of liquid‐crystal polymer networks (LCNs) under stimulation generally requires spatial configuration of the orientation direction, that is, patterned directors, of liquid crystal monomers prior to polymerization by means of treated surfaces. A strategy is demonstrated that needs only the simple uniaxial orientation of mesogens (monodomain) induced by mechanical stretching of LCNs. Using a rationally designed liquid crystal polymer, photocrosslinking is utilized to pattern or spatially organize the actuating monodomains in order to generate a differential contractile and/or extensional force field required for targeted shape change. Moreover, the approach enables versatile actuation modes and allows multiple shape changes to be programmed on a single piece of the polymer. This important feature is demonstrated with a specimen cut to have eight strips that, upon thermal stimulation, simultaneously display eight types of shape morphing.