Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Molecules. 2022 Jul 6;27(14):4330. doi: 10.3390/molecules27144330.
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are programmable deformable materials that can respond to physical fields such as light, heat, and electricity. Photothermal-driven LCE has the advantages of accuracy and remote control and avoids the requirement of high photon energy for photochemistry. In this review, we discuss recent advances in photothermal LCE materials and investigate methods for mechanical alignment, external field alignment, and surface-induced alignment. Advances in the synthesis and orientation of LCEs have enabled liquid crystal elastomers to meet applications in optics, robotics, and more. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and research opportunities.
液晶弹性体（LCE）是一种可编程的可变形材料，可以对光、热、电等物理场做出响应。光热驱动的 LCE 具有准确性和远程控制的优点，并且避免了光化学对高光子能量的要求。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了光热 LCE 材料的最新进展，并研究了机械取向、外场取向和表面诱导取向的方法。LCE 的合成和取向的进步使得液晶弹性体能够满足光学、机器人学等领域的应用需求。本文最后讨论了当前的挑战和研究机遇。
