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Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators from Anisotropic Porous Polymer Template
Author(s) -
Wang Qian,
Yu Li,
Yu Meina,
Zhao Dongyu,
Song Ping,
Chi Hun,
Guo Lin,
Yang Huai
Publication year - 2017
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.201600699
Subject(s) - polyvinylidene fluoride , materials science , liquid crystal , composite material , polymer , anisotropy , elastomer , porosity , photopolymer , actuator , monomer , optics , optoelectronics , physics , electrical engineering , engineering
Controlling self‐assembly behaviors of liquid crystals is a fundamental issue for designing them as intelligent actuators. Here, anisotropic porous polyvinylidene fluoride film is utilized as a template to induce homogeneous alignment of liquid crystals. The mechanism of liquid crystal alignment induced by anisotropic porous polyvinylidene fluoride film is illustrated based on the relationship between the alignment behavior of liquid crystals and surface microstructure of anisotropic polyvinylidene fluoride film. Liquid crystal elastomer actuators with fast responsiveness, large strain change, and reversible actuation behaviors are achieved by the photopolymerization of liquid crystal monomer in liquid crystal cells coated with anisotropic porous films.