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Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Design of Surface-Aligned Main-Chain Liquid-Crystal Networks Prepared under Ambient, Light-Free Conditions Using the
Minwook Park1, Friedrich Stricker1, Jesus Guillen Campos1
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara 93106, California, United States.
Abstract:
Surface-aligned liquid-crystal networks (LCNs) offer a solution for developing functional materials capable of performing a range of tasks, including actuation, shape memory, and surfaces patterning. Here we show that Diels-Alder cycloaddition can be used to prepare the backbone of planar aligned LCNs under mild ambient conditions without the addition of additives or UV irradiation. The mechanical properties of the networks have robust viscoelastic modulus and stiffness with a reversible local free volume change upon physical aging. This study shows new opportunities to design surface-aligned LCNs based on additive free step-growth Diels-Alder polymerization and enables the potential to incorporate a wider range of photochromic materials into LCNs.
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