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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
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Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
Published on: February 6, 2016
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Coaxial Direct Ink Writing of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Elastomers in 3D Architectures
Alicia Ng1, Rodrigo Telles2, Katherine S Riley3
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|January 27, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed 3D printing for cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), enabling mechanochromic sensors. This innovation allows complex structures with tunable color-changing properties for advanced applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) offer tunable structural color and elasticity for mechanochromic applications.
- Existing direct ink writing (DIW) methods are limited to 2D CLCE films, hindering the fabrication of complex 3D structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a 3D printing method for fabricating complex CLCE structures.
- To enable the creation of self-supported 3D CLCE components with mechanochromic properties.
Main Methods:
- Utilized coaxial DIW to print a CLC ink within a silicone ink shell.
- Tailored ink rheological properties for rapid cholesteric phase formation without annealing.
- Employed silicone encapsulation for layer-by-layer printing of self-supported 3D structures.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated 3D CLCE structures, including bistable thin-shell domes.
- Demonstrated mechanochromic color changes in response to compressive and tensile stresses.
- Developed 3D mechanochromic sensors with memory capabilities using an array of inverted domes.
Conclusions:
- The coaxial DIW platform enables rapid additive manufacturing of 3D mechanochromic sensors.
- This advancement expands the potential applications of CLCEs in areas like anti-counterfeiting, smart textiles, and soft robotics.
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