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Updated: May 22, 2025

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Supramolecular Chalcogen-Bonded Shape Memory Actuators
Hongshuang Guo1, J Mikko Rautiainen2, Hao Zeng1
1Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O. Box 541, Tampere, FI-33101, Finland.
Abstract:
Supramolecular liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) incorporating chalcogen bonds (ChBs) have been synthesized and investigated for shape memory and actuation properties. LCEs featuring strong Se⋯N ChBs (-40 to -43 kJ mol-1) exhibit both shape memory effects (SME) and reversible actuation, while those with weaker S⋯N ChBs (-32 to -34 kJ mol-1) do not. The Se⋯N-based LCEs transition from one-way to two-way SME after three days at room temperature, enabling programmable 2D/3D shape transformations and rewritable surface patterns. They also enable the fabrication of light-powered crawling robots as well as temperature-responsive knot-like actuators. These results highlight the critical role of the ChB strength and specificity in designing functional materials. Solid-state NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations provide further molecular-level insights into ChB interactions, laying the groundwork for advanced supramolecular actuators and shape-morphing LCEs.
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