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Copper‐Coated Liquid‐Crystalline Elastomer via Bioinspired Polydopamine Adhesion and Electroless Deposition
Author(s) -
Frick Carl P.,
Merkel Daniel R.,
Laursen Christopher M.,
Brinckmann Stephan A.,
Yakacki Christopher M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201600363
Subject(s) - elastomer , materials science , electroless deposition , adhesion , deposition (geology) , copper , nanotechnology , composite material , metallurgy , paleontology , sediment , biology
This study explores the functionalization of main‐chain nematic elastomers with a conductive metallic surface layer using a polydopamine binder. Using a two‐stage thiol‐acrylate reaction, a programmed monodomain is achieved for thermoreversible actuation. A copper layer (≈155 nm) is deposited onto polymer samples using electroless deposition while the samples are in their elongated nematic state. Samples undergo 42% contraction when heated above the isotropic transition temperature. During the thermal cycle, buckling of the copper layer is seen in the direction perpendicular to contraction; however, transverse cracking occurs due to the large Poisson effect experienced during actuation. As a result, the electrical conductivity of the layer reduced quickly as a function of thermal cycling. However, samples do not show signs of delamination after 25 thermal cycles. These results demonstrate the ability to explore multifunctional liquid‐crystalline composites using relatively facile synthesis, adhesion, and deposition techniques.