Programming actuation onset of a liquid crystalline elastomer via isomerization of network topology

被引:33
作者
Chen, Guancong [1 ,2 ]
Feng, Haijun [1 ]
Zhou, Xiaorui [1 ]
Gao, Feng [3 ]
Zhou, Kai [1 ]
Huang, Youju [2 ]
Jin, Binjie [1 ]
Xie, Tao [1 ]
Zhao, Qian [1 ]
机构
[1] Zhejiang Univ, Coll Chem & Biol Engn, State Key Lab Chem Engn, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, Peoples R China
[2] Hangzhou Normal Univ, Coll Mat Chem & Chem Engn, Minist Educ, Key Lab Organosilicon Chem & Mat Technol, Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang, Peoples R China
[3] Zhejiang Sci Tech Univ, Natl Engn Lab Text Fiber Mat & Proc Technol, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, Peoples R China
基金
中国国家自然科学基金;
关键词
3D;
D O I
10.1038/s41467-023-42594-8
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
Tuning actuation temperatures of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) achieves control of their actuation onsets, which is generally accomplished in the synthesis step and cannot be altered afterward. Multiple actuation onsets in one LCE can be encoded if the post-synthesis regulation of actuation temperature can be spatiotemporally achieved. This would allow realizing a logical time-evolution of actuation, desired for future soft robots. Nevertheless, this task is challenging given the additional need to ensure mesogen alignment required for actuation. We achieved this goal with a topology isomerizable network (TIN) of LCE containing aromatic and aliphatic esters in the mesogenic and amorphous phases, respectively. These two ester bonds can be distinctly activated for transesterification. The homolytic bond exchange between aliphatic esters allows mechanically induced mesogen alignment without affecting the mesogenic phase. Most importantly, the heterolytic exchange between aromatic and aliphatic esters changes the actuation temperature under different conditions. Spatial control of the two mechanisms via a photo-latent catalyst unleashes the freedom in regulating actuation temperature distribution, yielding unusual controllability in actuation geometries and logical sequence. Our principle is generally applicable to common LCEs containing both aromatic and aliphatic esters. Tuning actuation temperatures of liquid crystalline elastomers can help control actuation behaviour, but normally cannot be altered following the synthesis of the material. Here, the authors report the development of an elastomer with varying actuation temperature depending on the conditions.
引用
收藏
页数:9
相关论文
共 34 条
[1]   Processing advances in liquid crystal elastomers provide a path to biomedical applications [J].
Ambulo, Cedric P. ;
Tasmim, Seelay ;
Wang, Suitu ;
Abdelrahman, Mustafa K. ;
Zimmern, Philippe E. ;
Ware, Taylor H. .
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS, 2020, 128 (14)
[2]   Actuation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers at or Below Ambient Temperature [J].
Bauman, Grant E. ;
McCracken, Joselle M. ;
White, Timothy J. .
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 2022, 61 (28)
[3]   3D Printable and Reconfigurable Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Light-Induced Shape Memory via Dynamic Bond Exchange [J].
Davidson, Emily C. ;
Kotikian, Arda ;
Li, Shucong ;
Aizenberg, Joanna ;
Lewis, Jennifer A. .
ADVANCED MATERIALS, 2020, 32 (01)
[4]   Adaptable liquid crystal elastomers with transesterification-based bond exchange reactions [J].
Hanzon, Drew W. ;
Traugutt, Nicholas A. ;
McBride, Matthew K. ;
Bowman, Christopher N. ;
Yakacki, Christopher M. ;
Yu, Kai .
SOFT MATTER, 2018, 14 (06) :951-960
[5]   Electrospun liquid crystal elastomer microfiber actuator [J].
He, Qiguang ;
Wang, Zhijian ;
Wang, Yang ;
Wang, Zijun ;
Li, Chenghai ;
Annapooranan, Raja ;
Zeng, Jian ;
Chen, Renkun ;
Cai, Shengqiang .
SCIENCE ROBOTICS, 2021, 6 (57)
[6]   Synthesis and alignment of liquid crystalline elastomers [J].
Herbert, Katie M. ;
Fowler, Hayden E. ;
McCracken, Joselle M. ;
Schlafmann, Kyle R. ;
Koch, Jeremy A. ;
White, Timothy J. .
NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS, 2022, 7 (01) :23-38
[7]   "Self-Lockable" Liquid Crystalline Diels-Alder Dynamic Network Actuators with Room Temperature Programmability and Solution Reprocessability [J].
Jiang, Zhi-Chao ;
Xiao, Yao-Yu ;
Yin, Lu ;
Han, Li ;
Zhao, Yue .
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 2020, 59 (12) :4925-4931
[8]   Solvent-Assisted 4D Programming and Reprogramming of Liquid Crystalline Organogels [J].
Jin, Binjie ;
Liu, Jiaqi ;
Shi, Yunpeng ;
Chen, Guancong ;
Zhao, Qian ;
Yang, Shu .
ADVANCED MATERIALS, 2022, 34 (05)
[9]   Robust and Reprocessable Artificial Muscles Based on Liquid Crystal Elastomers with Dynamic Thiourea Bonds [J].
Lee, Jin-Hyeong ;
Bae, Jaehee ;
Hwang, Jae Hyuk ;
Choi, Moon-Young ;
Kim, Yong Seok ;
Park, Sungmin ;
Na, Jun-Hee ;
Kim, Dong-Gyun ;
Ahn, Suk-kyun .
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, 2022, 32 (13)
[10]   Merging the Interfaces of Different Shape-Shifting Polymers Using Hybrid Exchange Reactions [J].
Liang, Huan ;
Zhang, Shuai ;
Liu, Yawen ;
Yang, Yang ;
Zhang, Yubai ;
Wu, Yahe ;
Xu, Hongtu ;
Wei, Yen ;
Ji, Yan .
ADVANCED MATERIALS, 2023, 35 (01)