Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel Capable of Thermally-induced Dual Actuation

Yi-Ming Chen; Yue Zhao

doi:10.1007/s10118-025-3251-8

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Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel Capable of Thermally-induced Dual Actuation

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2025-07-14

- Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel Capable of Thermally-induced Dual Actuation
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 43, Issue 4, Pages: 563-571(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada
- Author bio：
  
  yue.zhao@usherbrooke.ca
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-025-3251-8
  CLC：
- Received：16 September 2024，
  
  Revised：10 October 2024，
  
  Accepted：14 October 2024，
  
  Published Online：25 November 2024，
  
  Published：01 April 2025
- Accepted：
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Chen, Y. M.; Zhao, Y. Liquid crystalline hydrogel capable of thermally-induced dual actuation. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 563–571

Yi-Ming Chen, Yue Zhao. Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel Capable of Thermally-induced Dual Actuation[J]. Chinese journal of polymer science, 2025, 43(4): 563-571.
Chen, Y. M.; Zhao, Y. Liquid crystalline hydrogel capable of thermally-induced dual actuation. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2025, 43, 563–571 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3251-8.

Yi-Ming Chen, Yue Zhao. Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel Capable of Thermally-induced Dual Actuation[J]. Chinese journal of polymer science, 2025, 43(4): 563-571. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-025-3251-8.

摘要

A liquid crystalline hydrogel (LCH) actuator capable of dual actuation in response to a single stimulus of heating or cooling is demonstrated using interpenetrating networks of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel and a main-chain liquid crystal elastomer (LCE).

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive shape-changing materials

particularly hydrogel and liquid crystal elastomer (LCE)

have demonstrated significant potential for applications across various fields. Although intricate deformation and actuation behaviors have been obtained in either hydrogels or LCEs

they typically undergo reversible shape change only once (

e.g.

one expansion plus one contraction) during one heating/cooling cycle. Herein

we report a study of a novel liquid crystalline hydrogel (LCH) and the achievement of dual actuation in a single heating/cooling cycle by integrating the characteristics of thermoresponsive hydrogel and LCE. The dual actuation behavior arises from the reversible volume phase transition of poly(

-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and the reversible order-disorder phase transition of LC mesogens in the LCH. Due to a temperature window separating the two transitions belonging to PNIPAM and LCE

LCH actuator can sequentially execute their respective actuation

thus deforming reversibly twice

during a heating/cooling cycle. The relative actuation degree of the two mechanisms is influenced by the mass ratio of PNIPAM to LCE in the LCH. Moreover

the initial shape of a bilayer actuator made with an active LCH layer and a passive polymer layer can be altered through hydration or dehydration of PNIPAM

which further modifies the dual actuation induced deformation. This work provides an example that shows the interest of developing LCH actuators.

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references

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