Photothermal-Driven Liquid Crystal Elastomers: Materials, Alignment and Applications

Wei Zhang; Yifei Nan; Zongxuan Wu; Yajing Shen; Dan Luo

doi:10.3390/molecules27144330

Photothermal-Driven Liquid Crystal Elastomers: Materials, Alignment and Applications

Wei Zhang, Yifei Nan, Zongxuan Wu, Yajing Shen, Dan Luo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

98 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.

Original language	English
Article number	4330
Journal	Molecules
Volume	27
Issue number	14
Online published	6 Jul 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27144330
Publication status	Published - Jul 2022

Research Keywords

actuator
liquid crystal elastomer
smart material
soft robot

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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abstract = "Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.",

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AU - Zhang, Wei

AU - Nan, Yifei

AU - Wu, Zongxuan

AU - Shen, Yajing

AU - Luo, Dan

PY - 2022/7

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N2 - Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.

AB - Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.

KW - actuator

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KW - smart material

KW - soft robot

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U2 - 10.3390/molecules27144330

DO - 10.3390/molecules27144330

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 35889204

SN - 1420-3049

VL - 27

JO - Molecules

JF - Molecules

IS - 14

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ER -

Photothermal-Driven Liquid Crystal Elastomers: Materials, Alignment and Applications

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