Bauman Grant E, McCracken Joselle M, White Timothy J
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2022 Jul 11;61(28):e202202577. doi: 10.1002/anie.202202577. Epub 2022 May 20.
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are an emerging class of material actuators. LCE undergo macroscopic dimensional changes when subjected to a stimulus. The large stimuli-response of LCE is associated with thermotropic disruption of order. Historically, comparatively high temperatures are required to disrupt orientation in LCE to achieve meaningful work output. Here, we introduce an approach to prepare LCE via thiol-Michael/thiol-ene reactions that actuate at or below ambient temperature. Alignment was imparted to the LCE by mechanical alignment and 3D printing. The LCE materials detailed here achieve strains of 40 % with a maximum deformation rate of 6.5 % °C . The functional utility of the tunability of the thermotropic response of these materials is illustrated in reconfiguration triggered via body heat and sequential actuation of a multi-material element.
液晶弹性体（LCE）是一类新兴的材料致动器。LCE在受到刺激时会发生宏观尺寸变化。LCE的大刺激响应与热致有序破坏有关。从历史上看，需要相对较高的温度来破坏LCE中的取向以实现有意义的功输出。在此，我们介绍一种通过硫醇-迈克尔/硫醇-烯反应制备LCE的方法，该反应在环境温度或低于环境温度下即可致动。通过机械取向和3D打印赋予LCE取向。此处详细介绍的LCE材料实现了40%的应变，最大变形速率为6.5%/°C。这些材料热致响应的可调性的功能效用在通过体热触发的重新配置和多材料元件的顺序致动中得到了体现。
