Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity01:21

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

4.1K
Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...
4.1K
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity01:26

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

3.3K
Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...
3.3K
Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism00:57

Cationic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.9K
The cationic polymerization mechanism consists of three steps: initiation, propagation, and termination. In the initiation step of the polymerization process, the π bond of a monomer gets protonated by the Lewis acid catalyst, which is formed from boron trifluoride and water. The protonation of the π bond generates a carbocation stabilized by the electron‐donating group. In the propagation step, the π bond of the second monomer acts as a nucleophile and attacks the...
2.9K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism01:04

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism

2.6K
The mechanism for anionic chain-growth polymerization involves initiation, propagation, and termination steps. In the initiation step, a nucleophilic anion, such as butyl lithium, initiates the polymerization process by attacking the π bond of the vinylic monomer. As a result, a carbanion, stabilized by the electron‐withdrawing group, is generated. The resulting carbanion acts as a Michael donor in the propagation step and attacks the second vinylic monomer, which acts as a Michael...
2.6K
Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview01:20

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

2.7K
The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...
2.7K
Polymer Classification: Architecture01:14

Polymer Classification: Architecture

4.0K
Polymers are classified as linear or branched on the basis of their chain architecture. The polymer chains in linear polymers have a long chain-like structure with minimal to no branching at all. Even if a polymer features large substituent groups on the monomer, which appear as branches to the skeleton, it is not considered a branched polymer. A branched polymer contains secondary polymer chains that arise from the main polymer chain. The branching occurs when the polymer growth shifts from...
4.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[Conversion efficacy and safety analysis of PD-1 inhibitor combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel and SOX chemotherapy regimen in initially unresectable advanced gastric cancer].

Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of gastrointestinal surgery·2026
Same author

[Research progress in the application of RPA-CRISPR/Cas13a technology in the detection of pathogenic microorganisms].

Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chinese journal of preventive medicine]·2026
Same author

[Research advances in immunotherapy for gastric cancer with specific molecular subtypes].

Zhonghua wei chang wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of gastrointestinal surgery·2026
Same author

Exploring humidity effects on polycrystalline human insulin-ligand complexes: preliminary crystallographic insights.

Journal of applied crystallography·2026
Same author

Linking root length and surface area to yield: variety-specific root plasticity in winter wheat across contrasting European environments.

Annals of botany·2025
Same author

Neuronal activation in the axolotl brain promotes tail regeneration.

NPJ Regenerative medicine·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
11:17

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

23.3K

Liquid-crystal order during synthesis affects main-chain liquid-crystal elastomer behavior.

N A Traugutt1, R H Volpe, M S Bollinger

  • 1Smart Materials and Biomechanics Lab, Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80217, USA. chris.yakacki@ucdenver.edu.

Soft Matter
|September 21, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Synthesis history significantly impacts liquid-crystal elastomer (LCE) properties. Creating networks in a nematic state (n-PNE) versus an isotropic state (i-PNE) alters thermo-mechanical behavior and shape-switching capabilities.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
12:21

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

13.6K
Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
12:04

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

9.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
11:17

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

Published on: January 19, 2016

23.3K
Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
12:21

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

13.6K
Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
12:04

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

9.5K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Liquid-crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit unique thermo-mechanical properties due to their anisotropic molecular ordering.
  • Controlling the synthesis conditions of LCEs is crucial for tailoring their performance in applications like soft robotics and actuators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly compare the influence of liquid-crystal order during synthesis on the thermo-mechanical behaviors of main-chain LCEs.
  • To investigate how synthesizing polydomain nematic elastomer (PNE) networks in either an isotropic (i-PNE) or nematic (n-PNE) state affects their properties.

Main Methods:

  • Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to analyze phase transitions.
  • Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) to assess viscoelastic properties.
  • Actuation tests, wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), and uniaxial tension tests to evaluate shape-switching, molecular order, and stress-strain behavior.

Main Results:

  • i-PNE networks showed a clear nematic-to-isotropic transition, while n-PNE networks exhibited a potentially different phase transition.
  • i-PNEs displayed prominent dynamic soft elasticity and significantly larger strain amplitudes (66–126%) compared to n-PNEs (3–61%).
  • n-PNEs showed higher strain recovery (27–73%) than i-PNEs (14–38%), despite i-PNEs having a higher order parameter (S=0.54) than n-PNEs (0.37–0.50) under strain.

Conclusions:

  • Synthesis history profoundly influences LCE thermo-mechanical behavior and actuation performance.
  • Synthesizing in an isotropic state (i-PNE) enhances dynamic soft elasticity and actuation strain amplitude.
  • Synthesizing in a nematic state (n-PNE) can lead to higher strain recovery, offering distinct advantages for specific LCE applications.