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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction
Published on: January 19, 2016
Architected Liquid Crystal Elastomer Lattices with Programmable Energy Absorption
Rodrigo Telles1, Julie A Mancini2, Jorge-Luis Barrera2
1John A. Paulson, School of Engineering and, Applied Sciences, and Wyss, Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
Abstract:
Architected LCE lattices are fabricated with flow-induced alignment via direct ink writing and systematically characterized their shape morphing, stiffness, and energy absorption behavior across strain rates spanning six orders of magnitude from 10-3 to 103 s-1. It is shown that architected liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) lattices exhibit superior energy absorption compared to their non-mesogenic (silicone) counterparts. Importantly, the LCE-to-silicone energy absorption ratios are up to 18-fold higher at the highest strain rate tested. A finite element model that captures their shape-morphing response is developed, which exhibits excellent agreement with the experimental observations. The work opens new avenues for designing and fabricating LCE lattices with programmable alignment, shape morphing, and mechanics.
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