The Effects of Network Architecture on the Photomechanical Performance of Azo-Acrylate Liquid Crystal Elastomers DOI Creative Commons
A. V. Svanidze, Sudip Kundu, Olena S. Iadlovska

et al.

Crystals, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. 1 - 1

Published: Dec. 24, 2024

Azo-containing liquid crystal elastomers are photomechanical materials that can be actuated via illumination. The response is a result of the photoisomerization azo moiety, which produces bulk stresses in material. These arise two distinct and competing mechanisms: order parameter change induced stress direct contractile stress. We describe thermomechanical experiments aimed at assessing relative contributions these. show details attachment dyes to network greatly influence photoresponse. discuss our results summarize findings.

Language: Английский

Biomimetic artificial neuromuscular fiber bundles with built-in adaptive feedback DOI
Yuanhao Chen,

Cristian Valenzuela,

Yuan Liu

et al.

Matter, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

Citations

11
Self‐Healing Yet Strong Actuator Materials with Muscle‐Like Diastole and Contraction via Multilevel Relaxations DOI Open Access
Zhuo Huang,

Zhibo Wu,

Changchun Li

et al.

Advanced Materials, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 10, 2024

Skeletal muscles represent a role model in soft robotics featuring agile locomotion and incredible mechanical robustness. However, existing actuators lack an optimal combination of actuation parameters (including modes, work capacity, strength, damage repair) to rival biological tissues. Here, biomimetic structural design strategy via multilevel relaxations (α/β/γ/δ-relaxation) modulation is proposed for robust healable actuator materials with muscle-like diastole contraction abilities by orientational alignment dendritic polyphenol-modified nano-assembles eutectogels. The anisotropic hierarchical micro-nanostructures assembled supramolecular interaction mimic the relative slippage actin filaments myosin muscles, ensuring bistable through rapid thermal α-relaxation expansion. Furthermore, kinetically active secondary β/γ/δ-relaxation at reconfigurable interfaces can conquer limited self-healing ability fixed-orientation polymeric chains. obtained artificial muscle exhibits high output actuation, properties (tensile strength 33.5 MPa), desired functional, efficiency (89.7%), exceeding typical natural living systems. bionic micro-nano achieves bottom-up cooperative relaxation integrate all-round performance which paves way substantial advancements next-generation intelligent robotics.

Language: Английский

Citations

8
Smart liquid crystal elastomer fibers DOI

Jiazhe Ma,

Zhongqiang Yang

Matter, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 8(2), P. 101950 - 101950

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Citations

1
Photo-Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer Coils Inspired by Tropism Movements of Plants DOI Creative Commons
Xiyun Zhan, Ran Zheng, Jiajun Li

et al.

Actuators, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 14(4), P. 171 - 171

Published: March 31, 2025

Plant tendrils exhibit intriguing tropism motions like bending, twisting, and coiling. Herein, we report the application of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) to make light-sensitive biomimetic coil replicate behaviors plant tendrils. The LCE consists diacrylate azobenzene, mesogens, thiol-based spacers. These components are first mixed form highly viscous prepolymer solution through thiol-acrylate Michael addition reaction. Subsequently, an extrusion–rolling process is developed draw into coil, which mechanically stretched in single direction align mesogens LCE. Finally, photopolymerized under UV light with diameter 375 µm. possesses good rigidity flexibility shows movement upon exposure. For example, reversible bending up 120° 365 nm 30% contraction 455 visible light, respectively, due trans-cis photoisomerization azobenzene derivatives. When irradiated intensity 10 mW cm−2, it can twist up. It also wrap around tube 6 s, similar tendril. This type light-responsive has great potential making plants or soft robotics.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Comprehensive Study of Actuation Mechanisms and Applications in Liquid Crystalline Polymer Networks and Elastomer from Nanometer Precision to Macroscale Functionality DOI

Geunjung Lee,

Baekman Kim,

Dong Ki Yoon

et al.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 2, 2025

Liquid crystalline polymer networks (LCNs) and liquid elastomers (LCEs) possess unique properties that enable structural deformation in response to external stimuli such as temperature, light, electric fields. These deformations occur across a wide range of scales, from nanometers macroscopic scales. This review aims comprehensively address the actuation mechanisms observed LCN LCE-based structures various First, phenomena are explored at nanoscale investigate potential applications these nanodevices systems. Next, microscale, presenting case studies involving micro-robotics micro-actuators, analyzed. Finally, it is examined how macroscale can be utilized large systems, macro devices soft robotics. By investigating scale-dependent characteristics, this paper provides an integrated perspective on LCE research, emphasizing their transformative for next-generation applications.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Alignment Strategies and Morphing Mechanisms in Liquid Crystal Elastomers: From Fundamentals to Advanced Applications DOI
Ming Cheng, Zhenming Wang, Zixuan Wu

et al.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 7, 2025

Abstract Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are smart materials that integrate the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals and elasticity polymers, enabling large, reversible shape changes in response to various external stimuli. These distinctive make LCEs a promising candidate for applications actuators, soft robotics, sensors, optics. The morphing behaviors fundamentally governed by alignment mesogenic molecules, which transition from ordered disordered states upon stimulation, resulting controllable transformations. Various techniques exploiting manipulation molecules continuously explored as way effectively actuate behaviors. This review provides an overview key techniques, including surface anchoring, field effect, mechanical alignment, explores how these methods support design tailored specific applications. relationship between is discussed, offering comprehensive alignment‐based strategies. Furthermore, highlights significant potential advanced such artificial muscles, reconfigurable optical devices. By providing foundational understanding LCEs’ morphing, this aims inspire more scientific innovations technical advances their application.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
High-Performance Temperature Sensors for Early Warning Utilizing Flexible All-Inorganic Thermoelectric Films DOI
Zaisheng Cai, Bo Wu, Xinxing Zhou

et al.

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 8, 2025

The demand for highly sensitive temperature-response materials is critical the advancement of intelligent temperature sensing and fire warning systems. Despite notable progress in thermoelectrical (TE) devices, designing TE suitable wide-range monitoring across diverse scenarios remains a challenge. In this study, we introduce sensor warnings hot object recognition, utilizing an all-inorganic film composite reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Te nanowires (Te NWs). resulting film, annealed at high temperature, exhibits distinct response ratios to varying changes, enabling consistently thermosensation. robust linear relationship between open circuit voltage difference establishes it as effective thermoreceptor enhanced alerts. Furthermore, demonstrate that assembled provides rapid high-temperature with adjustable threshold voltages (1-7 mV), achieving ultrafast time approximately 4.8 s 1 mV voltage. Additionally, can be integrated gloves monitor objects various scenarios, such brewed milk daily life heating reactors industrial applications. These results offer perspectives future innovations monitoring.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Untethered cylindrical liquid crystal elastomer actuators based on centrifugal fabrication process DOI
Shiyu Liu,

Qiuyu Yang,

Xiuxiu Wang

et al.

Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 162406 - 162406

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Plants Inspired Shape‐Programmable and Reconfigurable Actuation Soft Actuators for Adaptive Grasping, Sensing and Recognition DOI
Zixu Zhang, Li Zhi, Weizhong Yuan

et al.

Small, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 8, 2025

Abstract Developing soft actuators capable of large deformations under various stimuli is crucial for applications in artificial muscles, medical devices, and beyond. However, creating intelligent that can operate diverse environments perform complex tasks remains challenging. Therefore, inspired by natural plants, a sandwich‐structured actuator (LPPSA) with shape programmability reconfigurable actuation, integrating poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) via polypropylene nonwoven fabric designed fabricated. Above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the PNIPAM hydrogel undergoes transition from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, allowing LPPSA through controlled duration location. The LCE layer's rapid response thermal allows deform quickly, while photothermal converter (Solvent Black 7) facilitates wireless actuation near‐infrared radiation (NIR). work demonstrates LPPSA's capabilities underwater grasping, variable‐volume gripping, biomimetic such as mimicking opening closing flower petals, well gesture transformations. Moreover, functions sensor, transmitting information on motion temperature, uses machine learning object recognition. This establishes template designing multifunctional operating environments, advancing robotics systems.

Language: Английский

Citations

0
Self‐Sustained Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators with Geometric Zero‐Elastic‐Energy Modes DOI

Tongzhi Zang,

Reyihanguli Muhetaer,

Chun Zhang

et al.

Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 18, 2025

Abstract Recently, a novel and fascinating actuation mode of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), known as geometric zero‐elastic‐energy modes (ZEEMs), has drawn intensive research interest. Based on this mechanism, LCE actuators exhibit untethered, autonomous movements under external stimulations, demonstrating significant potential for applications in intelligent soft robots, energy conversion systems, smart optical tuning components. This perspective provides timely summary the current based ZEEMs highlights their future development trends prospects, which will be great interest to broad communities researchers fields LCEs, biomimetic materials, robotics, actuators.

Language: Английский

Citations

0