Liquid Crystals Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(2), P. 128 - 148
Published: July 2, 2024
Language: Английский
ACS Nano, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: Feb. 13, 2025
Liquid crystal elastomers with near-ambient temperature-responsiveness (NAT-LCEs) have been extensively studied for building biocompatible, low-power consumption devices and robotics. However, conventional manufacturing methods face limitations in programmability (e.g., molding) or low nematic order DIW printing). Here, a hybrid cooling strategy is proposed programmable three-dimensional (3D) printing of NAT-LCEs enhanced order, intricate shape forming, morphing capability. By integrating low-temperature nozzle platform into 3D printer, the resulting temperature field synergistically facilitates mesogen alignment during extrusion disruption-free ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking. This method achieves 3000% higher than fabricated using traditional room printing. Enabled by shifting transition printing, printed sheets spontaneously turn structures after release from platform, exhibiting bidirectional deformation heating cooling. adjusting plate temperatures, graded properties can be morphing. A wristband system heart rate monitoring also developed based on 3D-printed NAT-LCE. Our developments soft robotics, biomedical devices, wearable electronics.
Language: Английский
Citations
1
Chem & Bio Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 1(6), P. 488 - 515
Published: June 3, 2024
In nature, biological systems can sense environmental changes and alter their performance parameters in real time to adapt changes. Inspired by these, scientists have developed a range of novel shape-morphing materials. Shape-morphing materials are kind "intelligent" that exhibit responses external stimuli predetermined way then display preset function. Liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) is typical representative example The emergence 4D printing technology effectively simplify the preparation process LCEs, changing material compositions conditions, enabling precise control macroscopic design modes. At same time, layer-by-layer stacking method also endow LCEs with complex, hierarchical orientation structures, which gives researchers great degree freedom. has greatly expanded application scope as soft intelligent This review systematically reports recent progress 3D/4D discusses various technologies, synthesis methods actuation modes printed summarizes opportunities challenges technologies preparing LCEs.
Language: Английский
Citations
4
Applied Materials Today, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 40, P. 102372 - 102372
Published: Aug. 10, 2024
Research into programmable materials has attracted extraordinary interest since the nineties, when term "programmable" was introduced for first time. In its widest definition, is used to denote that are designed be highly dynamic, either in shape and/or physical/functional properties, on-demand and a precise, sequential predetermined way. Such unique feature allows them adapt various needs offers new opportunities several application fields, enabling overcome limitations of traditional materials. The present paper aims introduce readers world materials, enhance their interest, knowledge, skills field, provide useful insights ideas on how approach development implementation. Accordingly, this an overview discussion current state-of-the-art recent progress up future perspectives. First, historical evolution definition these as well types properties achievable presented. Then, different programming strategies could tune material covered, with emphasis constituent applied stimuli, geometrical arrangements. Finally, real-world applications, ongoing challenges, directions exciting class discussed.
Language: Английский
Citations
4
Polymers, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(4), P. 436 - 436
Published: Feb. 7, 2025
Self-excited systems rely on stable external stimuli to initiate and sustain oscillations via internal processes. However, these can compromise system stability increase friction, limiting their practical applications. To overcome this issue, we propose the light-fueled self-rolling of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)-based wheel. A photothermal response model based an LCE was used analyze temperature distribution within rods. The driving torque for is generated by contraction resulting from LCE's response, which displaces wheel's center mass. We then derived equilibrium equations identified critical conditions achieving motion. Through interaction between field torque, wheel achieves continuous absorbing thermal energy counteract damping dissipation. Numerical simulations revealed that velocity influenced several key parameters, including heat flux, coefficient, gravitational acceleration, initial rolling coefficient. proposed LCE-based enhances significantly reduces frictional losses. These characteristics make it promising candidate applications in autonomous drive systems, micro-transportation devices, conversion technologies.
Language: Английский
Citations
0
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(9), P. 14488 - 14498
Published: Feb. 25, 2025
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are among the key smart materials driving soft robotics and LCE fibers have garnered significant attention for their rapid response characteristics. A convenient fast method programming orientations of liquid molecules is a focal issue in applications. Inspired by Kirigami technique, here, we propose novel fabricating based on customizable cutting paths secondary photo-cross-linking. While most existing actuators exhibit contraction ratios around 30 to 40%, our conical spiral actuator, fabricated from LCE-carbon nanotube (CNT) fiber using proposed method, demonstrates significantly higher ratio, reaching up 80%. The ratio can be controlled adjusting path parameters elucidate mechanism linking orientation distribution ratio. Additionally, deformation actuator manipulated with light radiation, enabling versatile functionalities such as catching, twisting, gripping. We hope that fabrication presented provides new insights preparing fibers, offering valuable reference application materials.
Language: Английский
Citations
0
Photonics, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 227 - 227
Published: March 1, 2025
Optical imaging systems using varifocal lenses have been widely used in many applications over the past several decades, such as machine vision devices, consumer electronic products, and medical instruments. Traditional often consist of multiple solid focal length refractive optical elements. The ability is obtained by dislocating these elements along axis specific distances mechanical driving mechanisms. It makes traditional suffer from bulky dimensions, slow response speed, complicated configuration, discrete magnifications. Adaptive a better choice to address aforementioned limitations lenses. Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA), which can effectively respond an electric field result shape deformation, develop various adaptive This paper aims give brief review based on DEA. First, this describes basic physical mechanism Second, reviews liquid DEA introduces their material, structure, fabrication process, focusing unique advantages, fast speed compactness. However, despite merits, lens still has challenges environment stability leakage. To challenges, soft proposed, are also reviewed. In addition, other lenses, including metalens, Fresnel lens, microlens array, Alvarez presented. Finally, prospects for development discussed.
Language: Английский
Citations
0
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
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
Chemical Engineering Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 162406 - 162406
Published: April 1, 2025
Language: Английский
Citations
0
PRX Life, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 3(2)
Published: April 15, 2025
Animal morphogenesis often involves significant shape changes of epithelial tissue sheets. Great progress has been made in understanding the underlying cellular driving forces and their coordination through biomechanical feedback loops. However, our quantitative how cell-level dynamics translate into large-scale morphogenetic flows remains limited. A key challenge is finding relevant macroscopic variables (order parameters) that retain essential information about cell-scale structure. To address this challenge, we combine symmetry arguments with a stochastic mean-field model accounts for microscopic dynamics. Complementary to previous work on passive fluid- solidlike properties tissue, focus role actively generated internal stresses. Centrally, use timescale separation between elastic relaxation describe change quasistatic balance within sheet. The resulting geometric structure—a triangulation tension space dual polygonal cell tiling—proves ideal developing model. All parameters coarse-grained are calculated from explains driven by autonomous active rearrangements becomes self-limiting as previously observed experiments simulations. Additionally, quantitatively predicts behavior when coupled external fields, such planar polarity forces. We show fields can sustain oriented thus overcome self-limited character purely plastic flow. These findings demonstrate local self-organization top-down genetic instruction together determine internally Published American Physical Society 2025
Language: Английский
Citations
0