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Surface-Enforced Alignment of Reprogrammable Liquid Crystalline Elastomers.

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Summary

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are adaptable materials that change shape. This study introduces LCEs using dynamic covalent bonds, enabling programmable and reprogrammable shape transformations via surface alignment.

Keywords:
covalent adaptable networksliquid crystalline elastomerssoft roboticsstimuli-responsive polymers

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Soft Matter Physics

Background:

  • Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are stimuli-responsive polymers known for large, programmable deformations.
  • Their thermomechanical behavior arises from the interplay between polymer network characteristics and the ordering of liquid crystal mesogens.
  • Current methods for complex LCE deformations include surface-enforced alignment and localized mechanical deformation using dynamic covalent chemistries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel LCEs prepared via thiol-Michael addition reactions that are suitable for surface-enforced alignment.
  • To integrate dynamic covalent bonds into LCEs that can be surface-aligned.
  • To demonstrate the ability to program and reprogram complex director profiles in LCEs for distinct shape transformations.

Main Methods:

  • Preparation of LCEs utilizing the thiol-Michael addition reaction.
  • Application of surface-enforced alignment techniques to the synthesized LCEs.
  • Utilizing the dynamic covalent chemistry for programming and reprogramming director profiles.

Main Results:

  • Successful synthesis of LCEs amenable to surface-enforced alignment through thiol-Michael addition.
  • Unique incorporation of dynamic covalent bonds within the surface-aligned LCE chemistry.
  • Demonstration of LCEs with complex director profiles capable of programmed and reprogrammed shape transformations.

Conclusions:

  • LCEs prepared via thiol-Michael addition offer a versatile platform for surface-enforced alignment.
  • The dynamic covalent bonds within these LCEs allow for reversible programming of director profiles.
  • This approach enables the realization of distinct and reconfigurable shape transformations in LCEs.