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Microfluidic Preparation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators
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A 3D-Printed Ferromagnetic Liquid Crystal Elastomer with Programmed Dual-Anisotropy and Multi-Responsiveness
Yuxuan Sun1, Liu Wang2,3, Zhengqing Zhu1
1Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 12, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a ferromagnetic liquid crystal elastomer (magLCE) ink enabling independent control over nematic order and magnetization. This dual-anisotropy material offers enhanced adaptability for soft robotics and mechanical memory applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Robotics
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and magnetic soft materials are key active materials for soft robotics.
- Current limitations include the inability to independently program LCE nematic order and magnetization in a single material, hindering multi-responsiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a ferromagnetic LCE (magLCE) ink with independently programmable nematic order and magnetization, achieving "dual anisotropy".
Main Methods:
- Fabricated magLCE ink by dispersing ferromagnetic microparticles in an LCE matrix.
- Utilized a customized 3D-printing platform integrating a 3-DoF magnet with an extrusion-based printer for anisotropic programming.
- Demonstrated actuation via magnetic fields and heating (environmental or photo-heating).
Main Results:
- Successfully created magLCE ink with dual anisotropy.
- Achieved independent programming of nematic order and magnetization.
- Demonstrated tunable actuation temperature and high energy density.
- Showcased a programmed magLCE strip robot with enhanced adaptability to complex environments.
- Developed multistable mechanical metastructures with remote writability for mechanical memory applications.
Conclusions:
- The developed magLCE ink enables independent control over nematic order and magnetization, offering dual anisotropy.
- This material facilitates multi-actuation strategies for enhanced adaptability in soft robotics.
- Potential applications include advanced soft robotics and robust mechanical memory systems.
