scholarly journals Liquid Crystal Elastomer‐Based Magnetic Composite Films for Reconfigurable Shape‐Morphing Soft Miniature Machines

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 2006191
Author(s):  
Jiachen Zhang ◽  
Yubing Guo ◽  
Wenqi Hu ◽  
Ren Hao Soon ◽  
Zoey S. Davidson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Magnetic Composite ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing

scholarly journals A multifunctional shape-morphing elastomer with liquid metal inclusions

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (43) ◽  
pp. 21438-21444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Ford ◽  
Cedric P. Ambulo ◽  
Teresa A. Kent ◽  
Eric J. Markvicka ◽  
Chengfeng Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
Robot Locomotion ◽  
Mesoscale Structures ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Liquid Crystal Phase Transition ◽  
Macroscopic Shape

Natural soft tissue achieves a rich variety of functionality through a hierarchy of molecular, microscale, and mesoscale structures and ordering. Inspired by such architectures, we introduce a soft, multifunctional composite capable of a unique combination of sensing, mechanically robust electronic connectivity, and active shape morphing. The material is composed of a compliant and deformable liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrix that can achieve macroscopic shape change through a liquid crystal phase transition. The matrix is dispersed with liquid metal (LM) microparticles that are used to tailor the thermal and electrical conductivity of the LCE without detrimentally altering its mechanical or shape-morphing properties. Demonstrations of this composite for sensing, actuation, circuitry, and soft robot locomotion suggest the potential for versatile, tissue-like multifunctionality.

Untethered soft robotic matter with passive control of shape morphing and propulsion

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (33) ◽  
pp. eaax7044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arda Kotikian ◽  
Connor McMahan ◽  
Emily C. Davidson ◽  
Jalilah M. Muhammad ◽  
Robert D. Weeks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Passive Control ◽  
Integrated Design ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Pentagonal Prism ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
Thermal Stimuli ◽  
Bending Response

There is growing interest in creating untethered soft robotic matter that can repeatedly shape-morph and self-propel in response to external stimuli. Toward this goal, we printed soft robotic matter composed of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) bilayers with orthogonal director alignment and different nematic-to-isotropic transition temperatures (TNI) to form active hinges that interconnect polymeric tiles. When heated above their respective actuation temperatures, the printed LCE hinges exhibit a large, reversible bending response. Their actuation response is programmed by varying their chemistry and printed architecture. Through an integrated design and additive manufacturing approach, we created passively controlled, untethered soft robotic matter that adopts task-specific configurations on demand, including a self-twisting origami polyhedron that exhibits three stable configurations and a “rollbot” that assembles into a pentagonal prism and self-rolls in programmed responses to thermal stimuli.

Liquid crystal elastomer actuator with serpentine locomotion

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (55) ◽  
pp. 7597-7600
Author(s):  
Meng Wang ◽  
Xin-Bao Hu ◽  
Bo Zuo ◽  
Shuai Huang ◽  
Xu-Man Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Soft Actuator ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
S Curve

In this manuscript, we describe a snake-mimic soft actuator with serpentine locomotion, which can move forward relying on a reversible shape morphing between S-curve and reverse S-curve structures.

Size of liquid metal particles influences actuation properties of a liquid crystal elastomer composite

Soft Matter ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (25) ◽  
pp. 5878-5885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Ford ◽  
Maduran Palaniswamy ◽  
Cedric P. Ambulo ◽  
Taylor H. Ware ◽  
Carmel Majidi
Keyword(s):  
Particle Size ◽  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Metal Particle ◽  
Metal Particles ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
Metal Particle Size

A shape-morphing composite exhibits tunable actuation properties (stroke and force output) that are influenced by liquid metal particle size.

A cut-and-paste strategy towards liquid crystal elastomers with complex shape morphing

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (30) ◽  
pp. 8251-8257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Chen ◽  
Meng Wang ◽  
Ling-Xiang Guo ◽  
Bao-Ping Lin ◽  
Hong Yang
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Complex Shape ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer ◽  
Disulfide Exchange ◽  
Soft Actuator ◽  
Shape Morphing ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers

In this work, monodomain liquid crystal elastomer films with exchangeable disulfide crosslinkers are cut into pieces and pasted together through dynamic disulfide exchange to form versatile shaped soft actuator materials.

Modeling of photo-responsive liquid crystal elastomer actuators

2021 ◽  
Vol 560 ◽  
pp. 441-455
Author(s):  
Jundong Wu ◽  
Wenjun Ye ◽  
Yawu Wang ◽  
Chun-Yi Su
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomer
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