Wang Faxin, Bi Ran, Chen Yuanhao, Yang Yanzhao, Liu Yuan, Yang Le, Shen Yongtao, Wang Ling, Feng Wei
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China.
Binhai Industrial Research Institute, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300452, China.
Mater Horiz. 2025 Jul 14;12(14):5315-5324. doi: 10.1039/d5mh00363f.
Deployable structures that can be switched from a folded state to a predetermined or desired configuration are of paramount significance for diverse technological applications, which require the development of advanced smart actuation materials with high mechanical strength and programmable shape-morphing ability. Herein, we present a short-carbon-fiber-reinforced liquid crystal elastomer (SCF-LCE) fabricated 4D printing, which not only demonstrates enhanced tensile strength (13.5 MPa) and high actuation strain (27%) but also exhibits adaptive photoresponsive actuation. During the printing process, mesogens and SCF are oriented along the nozzle's moving direction by the extrusion shear force, enabling the formation of monodomain matrix materials. Importantly, the incorporation of passive layers onto the SCF-LCE enables programmable deformations and self-deployable structures. As a proof-of-the-concept, the SCF-LCE bilayer actuator is integrated with solar panels for a demonstration of self-adaptive solar panel unfolding system. The combination of enhanced mechanical properties and large driving strain in this short-fiber reinforced LCE is an accessible and influential approach to designing and fabricating LCE composites that may find potential applications in space deployable structures, soft robotics, artificial muscles, and beyond.
可从折叠状态转换为预定或期望构型的可展开结构对于各种技术应用至关重要，这需要开发具有高机械强度和可编程形状变形能力的先进智能驱动材料。在此，我们展示了一种通过4D打印制造的短碳纤维增强液晶弹性体（SCF-LCE），它不仅具有增强的拉伸强度（13.5MPa）和高驱动应变（27%），还表现出自适应光响应驱动。在打印过程中，液晶基元和短碳纤维通过挤出剪切力沿喷嘴移动方向取向，从而形成单畴基体材料。重要的是，在SCF-LCE上引入无源层可实现可编程变形和自展开结构。作为概念验证，SCF-LCE双层致动器与太阳能电池板集成，用于演示自适应太阳能电池板展开系统。这种短纤维增强LCE中增强的机械性能和大驱动应变的结合是设计和制造LCE复合材料的一种可行且有影响力的方法，可能在空间可展开结构、软体机器人、人造肌肉等领域找到潜在应用。
