ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
17(9), С. 14488 - 14498
Опубликована: Фев. 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.
Abstract
Self‐oscillation
phenomena
observed
in
nature
serve
as
extraordinary
inspiration
for
designing
synthetic
autonomous
moving
systems.
Converting
self‐oscillation
into
designable
self‐sustained
locomotion
can
lead
to
a
new
generation
of
soft
robots
that
require
minimal/no
external
control.
However,
such
is
typically
constrained
single
mode
dictated
by
the
constant
surrounding
environment.
In
this
study,
liquid
crystal
elastomer
(LCE)
robot
capable
achieving
multimodal
locomotion,
with
specific
motion
being
controlled
via
substrate
adhesion
or
remote
light
stimulation
presented.
Specifically,
LCE
mechanically
trained
undergo
repeated
snapping
actions
ensure
its
rolling
gradient
thermal
field
atop
hotplate.
By
further
fine‐tuning
adhesion,
exhibits
reversible
transitions
between
and
jumping
modes.
addition,
be
manipulated
real
time
through
perform
other
diverse
motions
including
turning,
decelerating,
stopping,
backing
up,
steering
around
complex
obstacles.
The
principle
introducing
an
on‐demand
gate
control
offers
venue
future
robots.
Progress in Polymer Science,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
153, С. 101829 - 101829
Опубликована: Май 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,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
121(3)
Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2024
Periodic
spin-orbit
motion
is
ubiquitous
in
nature,
observed
from
electrons
orbiting
nuclei
to
spinning
planets
the
Sun.
Achieving
autonomous
periodic
motions,
along
circular
and
noncircular
paths,
soft
mobile
robotics
crucial
for
adaptive
intelligent
exploration
of
unknown
environments-a
grand
challenge
yet
be
accomplished.
Here,
we
report
leveraging
a
closed-loop
twisted
ring
topology
with
defect
an
robot
capable
achieving
spin-orbiting
motions
programmed
re-programmed
irregular-shaped
trajectories.
Constructed
by
bonding
liquid
crystal
elastomer
ribbon
into
topology,
exhibits
three
coupled
self-motions
response
constant
temperature
or
light
sources:
inside-out
flipping,
self-spinning
around
center,
self-orbiting
point
outside
ring.
The
share
same
direction
period.
depends
on
twisting
chirality,
while
orbital
radius
period
are
determined
geometry
thermal
actuation.
flip-spin
arise
site
that
breaks
force
symmetry,
respectively.
By
utilizing
twisting-encoded
flip-spin-orbit
showcase
robot's
potential
intelligently
mapping
geometric
boundaries
confined
spaces,
including
convex
shapes
like
circles,
squares,
triangles,
pentagons
concaves
multi-robots,
as
well
health
monitoring
spaces
boundary
damages.
Advanced Materials,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2024
Abstract
Responsive
materials
possess
the
inherent
capacity
to
autonomously
sense
and
respond
various
external
stimuli,
demonstrating
physical
intelligence.
Among
diverse
array
of
responsive
materials,
liquid
crystalline
polymers
(LCPs)
stand
out
for
their
remarkable
reversible
stimuli‐responsive
shape‐morphing
properties
potential
creating
soft
robots.
While
numerous
reviews
have
extensively
detailed
progress
in
developing
LCP‐based
actuators
robots,
there
exists
a
need
comprehensive
summaries
that
elucidate
underlying
principles
governing
actuation
how
intelligence
is
embedded
within
these
systems.
This
review
provides
overview
recent
advancements
robots
endowed
with
using
LCPs.
structured
around
stimulus
conditions
categorizes
studies
involving
LCPs
based
on
fundamental
control
stimulation
logic
approach.
Specifically,
three
main
categories
are
examined:
systems
changing
those
operating
under
constant
equip
learning
capabilities.
Furthermore,
persisting
challenges
be
addressed
outlined
discuss
future
avenues
research
this
dynamic
field.
The
development
of
fibrous
actuators
with
diverse
actuation
modes
is
expected
to
accelerate
progress
in
active
textiles,
robotics,
wearable
electronics,
and
haptics.
Despite
the
advances
responsive
polymer-based
actuating
fibers,
available
are
limited
by
exclusive
reliance
current
technologies
on
thermotropic
contraction
along
fiber
axis.
To
address
this
gap,
present
study
describes
a
reversible
spontaneous
elongation
(~30%)
liquid
crystal
elastomer
fibers
produced
via
ultraviolet-assisted
melt
spinning.
This
arises
from
orthogonal
alignment
smectogenic
mesogens
relative
axis,
which
contrasts
parallel
typically
observed
nematic
achieved
through
mesophase
control
during
extrusion.
exhibiting
enable
textiles
increase
pore
size
response
temperature
increase.
integration
contracting
elongating
within
single
textile
enables
spatially
distinct
actuation,
paving
way
for
innovations
smart
clothing
fiber/textile
actuators.
Abstract
Soft
actuators
inspired
by
the
movement
of
organisms
have
attracted
extensive
attention
in
fields
soft
robotics,
electronic
skin,
artificial
intelligence,
and
healthcare
due
to
their
excellent
adaptability
operational
safety.
Liquid
crystal
elastomer
fiber
(LCEFAs)
are
considered
as
one
most
promising
since
they
can
provide
reversible
linear
motion
easily
integrated
or
woven
into
complex
structures
perform
pre‐programmed
movements
such
stretching,
rotating,
bending,
expanding.
The
research
on
LCEFAs
mainly
focuses
controllable
preparation,
structural
design,
functional
applications.
This
review,
for
first
time,
provides
a
comprehensive
systematic
review
recent
advances
this
important
field
focusing
thermal
response
LCEFAs.
First,
driving
mechanism,
direct
indirect
heating
strategies
systematically
summarized
analyzed.
Then,
fabrication
methods
applications
discussed.
Finally,
challenges
technical
difficulties
that
may
hinder
performance
improvement
large‐scale
production
proposed,
development
opportunities
prospected.
Advanced Functional Materials,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
unknown
Опубликована: Май 14, 2024
Abstract
Temperature‐responsive
hydrogels
including
lower
critical
solution
temperature
(LCST)‐
and
upper
(UCST)‐type
are
attractive
in
various
fields.
However,
the
swift
switch
between
LCST
UCST
stimuli‐responsive
behaviors
remains
intriguing
challenging.
Here
is
reported
a
kind
of
hydrogel
with
pH‐gated
response
behaviors.
This
achieved
using
hydrogen
bonding
carboxylic
acid
groups
poly(acrylic
acid‐
co
‐acrylamide)
hydroxyl
hydroxypropyl
cellulose
(HPC).
The
‐acrylamide)‐HPC
(PACA‐HPC)
exhibit
reversible
LCST‐UCST
phase
transition
behavior.
When
transparent
PACA‐HPC
placed
an
bath,
COO
−
get
protonated,
rapidly
forming
bonds
HPC
to
render
light‐scattering
state
making
opaque.
Furthermore,
opaque
exhibits
behavior
at
20–45
°C.
PCAC‐HPC
alkaline
environment,
hydrogen‐bonded
complexes
gradually
dissociate
as
COOH
deprotonated
form
homogeneous
state.
20–45°
C.
Therefore,
shown
strategy
fabricate
tunable
responses.
With
this
switchable
LCST/UCST
responsive
behaviors,
demonstrated
its
applications
smart
windows
information
encryption.
