How do liquid crystal elastomers work?

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a class of stimuli-responsive polymers that undergo reversible shape-change in response to environmental changes. The shape change of LCEs can be programmed during processing by orienting the liquid crystal phase prior to crosslinking.

Can elastomers be crystalline?

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are crosslinked polymer networks that combine the elastic properties of rubber with the anisotropic properties of liquid crystals.

What are the types of mesophase of liquid crystals?

In calamitic mesogens, there are three types of mesophases namely the nematic, cholesteric and smectic originally classified by Friedel [7] based on the degree of positional and orientational order. The discovery of new phases in liquid crystals turns to be often associated with an increase of complexity.

What is pneumatic liquid crystal?

A nematic liquid crystal is a transparent or translucent liquid that causes the polarization (that is, the focusing in a plane) of light waves to change as the waves pass through the liquid.

What is a liquid crystal elastomer?

A liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) is an anisotropic rubber, as it is formed by cross-linked polymeric chains with rigid rod-like mesogenic segments in the main chain and attached as side branches; these mesogenic units are similar to the molecules forming low-molecular weight liquid crystals 1, 2.

Are stimuli-responsive liquid crystal elastomers the future of soft robotics?

… Stimuli-responsive liquid crystal elastomers with molecular orientation coupled to rubber-like elasticity show a great potential as elements in soft robotics, sensing, and transport systems. The orientational order defines their mechanical response to external stimuli, such as thermally activated muscle-like contraction.

What is the best book on liquid crystal elastomers?

Warner, M. & Terentjev, E. M. Liquid Crystal Elastomers (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 2007). White, T. J. & Broer, D. J. Programmable and adaptive mechanics with liquid crystal polymer networks and elastomers. Nat.

What are mesogens in liquid crystalline elastomers?

In liquid crystalline elastomers, the mesogens can either be part of the polymer chain (main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers) or they are attached via an alkyl spacer (side-chain liquid crystalline elastomers).