Regulating Actuations and Shapes of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Combining Dynamic Covalent Bonds with Cooling-Rate-Mediated Control

Ya-Wen Liu; Huan Liang; Hong-Tu Xu; En-Jian He; Zhi-Jun Yang; Yi-Xuan Wang; Yen Wei; Zhen Li; Yan Ji

doi:10.1007/s10118-024-3192-7

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Regulating Actuations and Shapes of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Combining Dynamic Covalent Bonds with Cooling-Rate-Mediated Control

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2024-09-23

- Regulating Actuations and Shapes of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Combining Dynamic Covalent Bonds with Cooling-Rate-Mediated Control
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 42, Issue 10, Pages: 1442-1448(2024)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.The Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  b.Advanced Materials and Energy Center, Academy of Aerospace Science and Innovation, Beijing 100088, China
- Author bio：
  
  lianghuan@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn (H.L.)
  lizhen_casi@163.com (Z.L.)
  jiyan@tsinghua.edu.cn (Y.J.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-024-3192-7
  CLC：
- Published：01 October 2024，
  
  Published Online：27 August 2024，
  
  Received：25 April 2024，
  
  Revised：05 June 2024，
  
  Accepted：12 June 2024
- Accepted：
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Liu, Y. W.; Liang, H.; Xu, H. T.; He, E. J.; Yang, Z. J.; Wang, Y. X.; Wei, Y.; Li, Z.; Ji, Y. Regulating actuations and shapes of liquid crystal elastomers through combining dynamic covalent bonds with cooling-rate-mediated control. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2024, 42, 1442–1448

Ya-Wen Liu, Huan Liang, Hong-Tu Xu, et al. Regulating Actuations and Shapes of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Combining Dynamic Covalent Bonds with Cooling-Rate-Mediated Control. [J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 42(10):1442-1448(2024)
Liu, Y. W.; Liang, H.; Xu, H. T.; He, E. J.; Yang, Z. J.; Wang, Y. X.; Wei, Y.; Li, Z.; Ji, Y. Regulating actuations and shapes of liquid crystal elastomers through combining dynamic covalent bonds with cooling-rate-mediated control. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. 2024, 42, 1442–1448 DOI： 10.1007/s10118-024-3192-7.

Ya-Wen Liu, Huan Liang, Hong-Tu Xu, et al. Regulating Actuations and Shapes of Liquid Crystal Elastomers through Combining Dynamic Covalent Bonds with Cooling-Rate-Mediated Control. [J]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 42(10):1442-1448(2024) DOI： 10.1007/s10118-024-3192-7.

摘要

The actuation modes and locked shapes of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are adjusted on demand by combining dynamic covalent bonds with cooling-rate-mediated control. This approach provides a novel way for diversifying deformations and enhancing multi-functionality of cutting-edge intelligent devices.

Abstract

Realizing multiple locked shapes in pre-oriented liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) is highly desired for diversifying deformations and enhancing multi-functionality. However

conventional LCEs only deform between two shapes for each actuation cycle upon liquid crystal-isotropic phase transitions induced by external stimuli. Here

we propose to regulate the actuation modes and the locked shapes of a pre-orientated epoxy LCE by combining dynamic covalent bonds with cooling-rate-mediated control. The actuation modes can be adjusted on demand by exchange reactions of dynamic covalent bonds. Derived from the established actuation modes

such as elongation

bending

and spiraling

the epoxy LCE displays varied locked shapes at room temperature under different cooling rates. Various mediums are utilized to control the cooling rate

including water

silicone oil

and copper plates. This approach provides a novel way for regulating the actuation modes and locked shapes of cutting-edge intelligent devices.

关键词

Keywords

Liquid crystal elastomerEpoxyDynamic covalent bondVitrimerCooling rate

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