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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
Published on: February 6, 2016
Critical field strength in an electroclinic liquid crystal elastomer
Christopher M Spillmann1, Amit V Kapur, Frank W Bentrem
1Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Avenue SW, Washington, DC 22375, USA. christopher.spillmann@nrl.navy.mil
Abstract:
We elucidate the polymer dynamics of a liquid crystal elastomer based on the time-dependent response of the pendent liquid crystal mesogens. The molecular tilt and switching time of mesogens are analyzed as a function of temperature and cross-linking density upon application of an electric field. We observe an unexpected maximum in the switching time of the liquid crystal mesogens at intermediate field strength. Analysis of the molecular tilt over multiple time regimes correlates the maximum response time with a transition to entangled polymer dynamics at a critical field strength.
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