Reprogrammable, Reprocessible, and Self-Healable Liquid Crystal Elastomer with Exchangeable Disulfide Bonds

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Soft Matter Physics

Background:

• Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) integrate mesogenic molecules into polymer networks for large mechanical actuation.
• Conventional synthesis methods limit LCE shape complexity and molecular order.
• Existing LCEs face challenges in reprocessing and self-healing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) with disulfide bonds for improved reprogrammability and reprocessability.
• To overcome limitations of traditional LCE synthesis, enabling complex shapes and enhanced functionality.
• To demonstrate the potential of the new LCE in fabricating advanced devices.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a new LCE incorporating disulfide bonds.
• Induction of reprogramming from polydomain to monodomain states via heating or UV illumination, utilizing disulfide bond metathesis.
• Fabrication of LCE-based active micropillar arrays using imprint lithography.

Main Results:

• The developed LCE exhibits reprogrammability between polydomain and monodomain states triggered by heat or UV light.
• The disulfide bonds facilitate polymer network rearrangement, enabling reprogramming.
• The LCE demonstrates excellent reprocessability and self-healing properties upon heating.
• Successful fabrication of complex LCE structures, such as active micropillar arrays, was achieved.
• The new LCE material showed excellent long-term durability.

Conclusions:

• The novel disulfide-containing LCE offers significant advantages in reprogrammability and reprocessability over conventional LCEs.
• This material advancement enables the fabrication of complex, multifunctional devices previously unattainable.
• The developed LCE holds promise for applications in artificial muscles and advanced adaptive systems.