Self-Oscillation of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Fiber-Slide System Driven by Self-Flickering Light Source

Self-oscillation, a control approach inspired by biological systems, demonstrates an autonomous, continuous, and regular response to constant external environmental stimuli. Until now, most self-oscillation systems have relied on a static external environment that continuously supplies energy, while materials typically absorb ambient energy only intermittently. In this article, we propose an innovative self-oscillation of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fiber-slide system driven by a self-flickering light source, which can efficiently regulate the energy input in sync with the self-oscillating behavior under constant voltage. This system primarily consists of a photo-responsive LCE fiber, a slider that includes a conductive segment and an insulating segment, a light source, and a conductive track. Using the dynamic LCE model, we derive the governing equation for the motion of the LCE fiber-slider system. Numerical simulations show that the LCE fiber-slide system under constant voltage exhibits two distinct motion phases, namely the stationary phase and the self-oscillation phase. The self-oscillation occurs due to the photo-induced contraction of the LCE fiber when the light source is activated. We also investigate the critical conditions required to initiate self-oscillation, and examine key system parameters influencing its frequency and amplitude. Unlike the continuous energy release from the static environmental field in most self-oscillation systems, our LCE fiber-slide self-oscillation system is driven by a self-flickering light source, which dynamically adjusts the energy input under a constant voltage to synchronize with the self-oscillating behavior. Our design features advantages such as spontaneous periodic lighting, a simple structure, energy efficiency, and ease of operation. It shows significant promise for dynamic circuit systems, monitoring devices, and optical applications.