Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Fluid Mosaic Model

Fluid Mosaic Model

The fluid mosaic model was first proposed as a visual representation of research observations. The model comprises the composition and dynamics of membranes and serves as a foundation for future membrane-related studies. The model depicts the structure of the plasma membrane with a variety of components, which include phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. These integral molecules are loosely bound, defining the cell’s border and providing fluidity for optimal function.LipidsThe most...

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Classification and Mechanical Properties of Synthetic Polymers

Synthetic polymers are classified as elastomers, fibers, or plastics based on their crystallinity. Crystallinity, the degree of long-range order in the solid state, influences the mechanical properties (stretching or contracting) of elastomers. Elastomers are flexible polymers that can expand or contract easily upon the application of an external force. They have numerous crosslinks that pull them back into their original shape when stress is removed. Silicones, for instance, are highly elastic...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Direct Evidence for the Sulfonium-Mediated Photopolymerization of 1,2-Dithiolanes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Same author

Tuning Adhesion through 3D Mesogen Alignment in Liquid Crystalline Elastomers.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same author

Tailoring fully biobased optical adhesives <i>via</i> hydrogen-bonding modulation.

RSC applied polymers·2026

Same author

Engineering and Exploring Hydrolytic Degradation in 3D-Printed Liquid Crystalline Elastomers.

Biomacromolecules·2026

Same author

Recapitulating the Native Tendon Environment in a Synthetic 3D Anisotropic Hydrogel as an Engineered Extracellular Matrix.

ACS applied bio materials·2026

Same author

Preparation of Degradable Polymers Containing Tunable Ratios of Dithioacetals and Disulfides via Mixed Mode Polymerization.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2025

Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Assessing the health risks of rice cadmium content standards in China" by H. Chu <i>et al</i>.

Science advances·2026

Same journal

Erratum for the Research Article "Developmental regulation of Erk signaling by mitotic kinases" by F. Chen <i>et al</i>.

Science advances·2026

Same journal

Magnetically levitated metasurface enabling tangible and bidirectional human-machine interaction.

Science advances·2026

Same journal

A general photoinduced manganese-catalyzed platform for the sequential difunctionalization of [1.1.1]propellane.

Science advances·2026

Same journal

Turning sound and force into light with AlN:Mn<sup>2+</sup> mechanoluminescence.

Science advances·2026

Same journal

Extreme dominance of Earth-origin heavy ions in the intense ring current near the Earth during the May 2024 super geomagnetic storm.

Science advances·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

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

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

Published on: January 19, 2016

Leaping liquid crystal elastomers.

Tayler S Hebner¹, Kevin Korner², Christopher N Bowman^1,3

¹Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

Science Advances

|January 18, 2023

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed fast-acting liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) components that exhibit rapid snap-through motion. These engineered LCEs can leap over 200 times their thickness in just 6 milliseconds.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2026

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

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

Published on: January 19, 2016

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

Published on: February 6, 2016

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published on: May 20, 2018

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering
Soft Robotics

Background:

Snap-through mechanisms are common in nature and engineered systems.
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are responsive materials capable of mechanical actuation.
Existing LCE actuators are limited by slow deformation rates due to their second-order phase transition.

Purpose of the Study:

To achieve rapid and powerful snap-through responses in LCEs.
To overcome the speed limitations of conventional LCE actuators.
To explore the use of functionally graded LCEs for high-speed mechanical events.

Main Methods:

Locally patterning director orientation in LCEs.
Fabricating LCE mechanical elements with through-thickness modulus gradients.
Utilizing stimuli-induced mechanical instability for snap-through.
Complementing experimental work with computational mechanics evaluation.

Main Results:

Demonstrated stimuli-induced snap-through response in LCEs as fast as 6 milliseconds.
Observed LCE elements leaping to heights over 200 times their material thickness.
Validated a computational model for predicting LCE mechanics and performance.
Showcased directional leaping capabilities of the functionally graded LCE elements.

Conclusions:

Functionally graded LCEs enable significantly faster and more powerful snap-through actuation than previously possible.
The developed LCE elements exhibit rapid acceleration and substantial force output.
Computational modeling serves as an effective design tool for optimizing LCE-based mechanical systems for applications like directional leaping.