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Patterned Photonic Actuators with Dynamic Shape-Morphing and Color-Changing Capabilities Fabricated by Athermal
Nina Qian1, Jun Hu1, Shuai Huang1
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211189, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|May 1, 2024
Summary
Researchers developed rapid fabrication of stimuli-responsive patterned photonic actuators using athermal embossing. These liquid crystal elastomer actuators exhibit dynamic color changes and 3D actuation, paving the way for advanced soft robotics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Soft Robotics
- Photonics
Background:
- Stimuli-responsive patterned photonic actuators are crucial for advanced robotics, offering synergistic color changes and shape morphing.
- Traditional methods for fabricating these actuators are often slow, complex, and result in limited deformation scales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a facile and rapid fabrication approach for patterned photonic actuators.
- To develop actuators based on near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive liquid crystal elastomers.
- To demonstrate complex 3D actuation and durable structural color changes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an athermal embossing technique for rapid fabrication.
- Employed near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive liquid crystal elastomers as the base material.
- Fabricated proof-of-concept actuators, including a butterfly-inspired and an origami crane-shaped device.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid fabrication of patterned photonic actuators with brilliant angle-dependent structural color.
- Demonstrated complex three-dimensional actuation and good color durability under NIR light stimulation.
- Showcased actuators with shape memory, structural color information storage, and dynamic display capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The athermal embossing technique offers a significant advancement in the facile and rapid fabrication of patterned photonic actuators.
- The developed liquid crystal elastomer actuators exhibit promising properties for advanced soft robotic applications.
- This strategy provides valuable insights for designing and fabricating diverse patterned photonic soft robotic devices and intelligent actuators.
