Progress in Polymer Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
153, P. 101829 - 101829
Published: May 10, 2024
Liquid
crystal
elastomers
(LCEs)
have
long
held
significant
promise
as
materials
for
artificial
muscles
and
smart
actuators.
Recent
advancements
in
this
field
introduced
innovative
LCE
structures
at
various
scales,
resulting
novel
properties
functionalities
that
further
accentuate
their
actuation
advantages,
bolstering
potential
future
soft
systems.
The
ongoing
pursuit
of
enhanced
performance
functionality
actuators,
essential
advancing
them
towards
superior
material-based
machines
devices,
is
intricately
linked
to
the
understanding
fundamental
structure-property-function
relationships.
This
review
provides
a
perspective
on
these
relationships
across
multiple
structural
levels,
encompassing
chemical
structures,
mesophase
micro-to-macroscale
programmed
structures.
It
delves
into
impact
key
actuation-related
properties,
features,
functionalities.
aspires
provide
valuable
insights
design
high-performance
development
exceptional
modes
behaviors,
expansion
achievable
functionality.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(22)
Published: May 23, 2022
Soft
robots
that
can
harvest
energy
from
environmental
resources
for
autonomous
locomotion
is
highly
desired;
however,
few
are
capable
of
adaptive
navigation
without
human
interventions.
Here,
we
report
twisting
soft
with
embodied
physical
intelligence
adaptive,
intelligent
in
various
unstructured
environments,
on-board
or
external
controls
and
The
constructed
twisted
thermal-responsive
liquid
crystal
elastomer
ribbons
a
straight
centerline.
They
thermal
environments
to
roll
on
outdoor
hard
surfaces
challenging
granular
substrates
slip,
including
ascending
loose
sandy
slopes,
crossing
sand
ripples,
escaping
burying
sand,
rocks
additional
camouflaging
features.
body
provides
anchoring
functionality
by
burrowing
into
sand.
When
encountering
obstacles,
they
either
self-turn
self-snap
obstacle
negotiation
avoidance.
Theoretical
models
finite
element
simulation
reveal
such
achieved
spontaneously
snapping-through
its
upon
active
body-obstacle
interactions.
Utilizing
this
strategy,
intelligently
escape
confined
spaces
maze-like
courses
any
intervention.
This
work
presents
de
novo
design
harnessing
the
geometry
snap-through
instability
robot-environment
Materials Horizons,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
9(7), P. 1825 - 1849
Published: Jan. 1, 2022
We
review
recent
advances
in
4D
printing
of
LCEs,
with
emphasis
on
synthesis
and
processing
methods
that
enable
microscopic
changes
the
molecular
orientation
hence
macroscopic
properties
printed
objects.
Advanced Materials,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
34(21)
Published: March 31, 2022
Realization
of
muscle-like
actuation
for
a
liquid
crystal
elastomer
(LCE)
requires
mesogen
alignment,
which
is
typically
achieved/fixed
chemically
during
the
synthesis.
Post-synthesis
regulation
alignment
in
convenient
and
repeatable
manner
highly
desirable
yet
challenging.
Here,
dual-phase
LCE
network
designed
synthesized
with
crystalline
melting
transition
above
transition.
The
phase
can
serve
as
an
"alignment
frame"
to
fix
any
mechanical
deformation
via
shape
memory
mechanism,
leading
corresponding
phase.
be
erased
by
melting,
starting
point
reprogramming.
This
strategy
that
relies
on
physical
permits
repeated
reprogramming
timescale
seconds,
stark
contrast
typical
methods.
It
further
leads
unusual
versatility
designing
3D
printed
unlimited
programmable
modes.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
8(20)
Published: May 18, 2022
An
artificial
muscle
capable
of
shape
programmability,
deformation-locking
capacity
without
needing
continuous
external
energy,
and
self-sensing
capability
is
highly
desirable
yet
challenging
in
applications
reconfigurable
antenna,
deployable
space
structures,
etc.
Inspired
by
coupled
behavior
the
muscles,
bones,
nerve
system
mammals,
a
multifunctional
based
on
polydopamine-coated
liquid
crystal
elastomer
(LCE)
low-melting
point
alloy
(LMPA)
form
concentric
tube/rod
proposed.
Thereinto,
outer
LCE
used
for
reversible
contraction
recovery
(i.e.,
function);
inner
LMPA
resolidification
state
adopted
deformation
locking,
that
melt
angle
variation
monitoring
detecting
resistance
change
bones
functions,
respectively).
The
proposed
demonstrates
multiple
performances,
including
controllable
bending
angle,
position,
direction;
locking
supporting
heavy
objects;
real-time
variation,
which
also
provides
straightforward
effective
approach
designing
soft
devices.
Advanced Engineering Materials,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
25(21)
Published: Aug. 29, 2023
Stimuli‐responsive
polymers
(SRPs)
are
special
types
of
soft
materials,
which
have
been
extensively
used
for
developing
flexible
actuators,
robots,
wearable
devices,
sensors,
self‐expanding
structures,
and
biomedical
thanks
to
their
ability
change
shapes
functional
properties
in
response
external
stimuli
including
light,
humidity,
heat,
pH,
electric
field,
solvent,
magnetic
field
or
combinations
two
more
these
stimuli.
In
recent
years,
additive
manufacturing
(AM)
aka
3D
printing
technology
SRPs,
also
known
as
4D
printing,
has
gained
phenomenal
attention
different
engineering
fields,
its
unique
develop
complex,
personalized,
innovative
undergo
twisting,
elongating,
swelling,
rolling,
shrinking,
bending,
spiraling,
other
complex
morphological
transformations.
Herein,
an
effort
made
provide
insightful
information
about
the
AM
techniques,
type
applications
including,
but
not
limited
tissue
engineering,
bionics,
construction,
smart
textiles.
This
article
incorporates
current
challenges
prospects,
hoping
basis
utilization
this
fields.
It
is
expected
that
amalgamation
with
SRPs
would
unparalleled
advantages
arenas.
Advanced Functional Materials,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
34(14)
Published: Dec. 24, 2023
Abstract
Shape
memory
polymers
(SMPs)
are
one
of
the
primary
directions
in
development
modern
high‐tech
new
materials,
which
integrated
with
sensing,
actuation,
information
processing,
and
autonomous
deformation.
Here,
multifunctional
shape
focused
a
detailed
introduction
to
characteristics
self‐deformation,
self‐sensing,
self‐healing,
self‐learning
is
provided.
Integrating
other
functional
materials
form
polymer
composites
(SMPC),
designing
controlling
material
structure
organization
at
microscale,
thereby
achieving
more
precise
controllable
effects
expanding
potential
applications.
Ultimately,
it
shown
that
SMPs
their
have
wide
range
fascinating
applications
fields
robotics,
smart
clothing,
textiles,
biomedical
devices,
wearable
technology.
will
thus
continue
play
significant
role
future
deeper
exploration.
European Polymer Journal,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
205, P. 112718 - 112718
Published: Jan. 2, 2024
In
the
contemporary
era,
novel
manufacturing
technologies
like
additive
(AM)
have
revolutionized
different
engineering
sectors
including
biomedical,
aerospace,
electronics,
etc.
Four-dimensional
(4D)
printing
aka
AM
of
smart
materials
is
gaining
popularity
among
scientific
community,
which
has
excellent
ability
to
make
soft
structures
such
as
robots,
actuators,
and
grippers.
These
are
developed
by
applying
various
stimuli
pH,
temperature,
magnetic
field,
many
combinations
onto
materials.
Stimuli
in
3D
permit
shape-morphing
behaviors
bending,
twisting,
folding,
swelling,
rolling,
shrinking,
origami,
or
locomotion.
A
wide
variety
can
be
fabricated
through
incorporation
hard
particles
into
resulting
magneto-active
(MASMs).
With
this
integration,
magneto-thermal
coupling
actuation
allows
diverse
magneto-deformations,
facilitating
development
personalized
devices
that
capable
enhanced
deformation.
review,
guidelines
provided
on
for
MASMs
polymers
(MAPs),
composites,
hydrogels
(MAHs)
booming
flexible
wearable
biomimetic
devices.
Moreover,
3D-printed
robotics
an
outstanding
capacity
adapt
complicated
situations
advanced
actuating
applications.
Finally,
some
current
challenges
emerging
areas
exciting
technology
been
proposed.
Lastly,
it
anticipated
technological
advancements
developing
intelligent
will
a
significant
impact
design
real-world
