Programmable and Reversible 3D-to-3D Shape Transformation: Hierarchical Multimodal Morphing Based on Liquid Crystal...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Soft Robotics
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Programmable shape morphing in soft actuators, especially those based on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), is challenging.
• Achieving multimodal transformations and non-zero Gaussian curvature in 3D shapes is a key hurdle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a facile strategy for creating 3D LCE-elastomer (LCE-Ela) bilayer structures.
• To enable customizable and programmable 3D-to-3D shape transformations with multimodal behaviors and non-zero Gaussian curvature.

Main Methods:

• Combining pre-stretch and thermal mismatch strains in LCE-Ela bilayers.
• Utilizing hierarchical multimodal transformations from 2D to complex 3D structures.
• Experimental and computational demonstrations of diverse 3D configurations.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of 3D LCE-Ela bilayer structures capable of programmable 3D-to-3D shape transformations.
• Generation of reversible, multimodal morphologies with non-zero Gaussian curvature.
• Demonstration of over 30 diverse 3D configurations, including biomimetic structures (chameleon, butterfly, spider, leaf).

Conclusions:

• The developed approach provides a facile method for generating customizable 3D-to-3D transformations with complex geometries.
• The LCE-Ela structures exhibit vivid deformation and potential for applications in information encryption, camouflage, and adaptive devices.
• Broadens the application scope of LCE-based technologies in 3D soft actuators.