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Repeatable and Reprogrammable Shape Morphing from Photoresponsive Gold Nanorod/Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Yuchen Wang1, Alei Dang1,2, Zhifeng Zhang3
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 12, 2020
Summary
This study demonstrates a novel liquid crystal elastomer composite with gold nanorods for enhanced photothermal actuation. The material achieves fast, repeatable shape-morphing for advanced soft robotics and smart devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are promising for soft robotics and shape-morphing applications.
- Light-induced actuation offers precise control but is hindered by nanoparticle aggregation in LCEs.
- Efficient photothermal conversion is crucial for rapid and repeatable LCE actuation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a near-infrared-responsive LCE composite with well-dispersed gold nanorods (AuNRs).
- To investigate the photothermal actuation performance of the AuNR/LCE composite.
- To demonstrate the shape-morphing capabilities of the developed material.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized poly(ethylene glycol)-modified gold nanorods (AuNRs).
- Incorporated AuNRs into an LCE matrix at concentrations up to 0.20 wt% without significant aggregation.
- Characterized the photothermal response, actuation speed, strain, and repeatability under 800 nm light irradiation.
Main Results:
- Achieved uniform dispersion of AuNRs within the LCE matrix.
- Demonstrated fast actuation (within 5 s) and recovery (within 2 s) with a large actuation strain (56%).
- Exhibited excellent photothermal performance and repeatability under NIR light exposure (≈1.0 W cm-2).
- Showcased versatile shape-morphing capabilities by using photomasks to control light exposure patterns.
Conclusions:
- The developed AuNR/LCE composite overcomes nanoparticle aggregation issues, enabling efficient photothermal actuation.
- The material exhibits high performance, including rapid response and large strain, suitable for advanced applications.
- The ability to achieve diverse shapes through photomask patterning highlights its potential in programmable matter and soft robotics.
