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Single-parameter programmed thermomechanical actuation via 3D-printed helical director fields in liquid crystal
Yuxuan Sun1, Boxi Sun1, Zhengqing Zhu1
1Institute of Humanoid Robots, Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Nature Communications
|May 15, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a rotational 3D printing method for liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). This technique enables programmable, multimodal actuation in soft machines by controlling molecular alignment with a helix angle, offering rewritable shape programs.
Area of Science:
- Soft robotics
- Materials science
- Additive manufacturing
Background:
- Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are promising for soft machines but conventional 3D printing limits their actuation.
- Extrusion-based printing restricts molecular alignment, coupling actuation to geometry and requiring complex designs for multimodal behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a rotational 3D printing approach for LCEs that decouples actuation from device geometry.
- To enable multimodal actuation and programmable shape changes using a single fabrication parameter: the helix angle (θ).
Main Methods:
- Developed a rotational 3D printing technique to embed a helical director field within LCE filaments.
- Tuned the helix angle (θ) to program filaments for contraction, elongation, twisting, or invariance upon heating.
- Utilized spatial gradients in θ for sequential shape changes and localized heating of magnetic-LCE composites for rewritable memory.
Main Results:
- Filaments exhibited programmed actuation modes (contract, elongate, twist) controlled by the helix angle (θ).
- Demonstrated sequential shape changes via thermal gradients and rewritable memory through magnetic domain reorientation.
- Successfully created self-partitioning grippers, multimodal robots, and reprogrammable guidewires with adaptive functionalities.
Conclusions:
- The rotational 3D printing approach establishes material-encoded programmability for monolithic soft robots and reconfigurable structures.
- This method decouples actuation modes, deformation sequences, and memory from device geometry, simplifying soft machine design.
- Offers a pathway towards untethered soft machines with complex, adaptive behaviors and rewritable functionalities.
