Liquid Crystal; Elastomer; Order Parameter; Anti-order; Negative order parameter; Actuator
Abstract :
[en] Liquid crystals (LCs) are nonsolids with long-range orientational order, described by a scalar order parameter ⟨P2⟩=1/2⟨3cos2β−1⟩. Despite the vast set of existing LC materials, one-third of the order parameter value range, −1/2< 〈P2〉 < 0, has until now been inaccessible. Here, we present the first material with negative LC order parameter in its ground state, in the form of elastomeric shells. The optical and actuation characteristics are opposite to those of conventional LC elastomers (LCEs). This novel class of anti-ordered elastomers gives access to the previously secluded range of liquid crystallinity with 〈P2〉 < 0, providing new challenges for soft matter physics and adding a complementary type of LCE actuator that is attractive for applications in, e.g., soft robotics
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
Jampani, Venkata ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Reguengo De Sousa, Kevin; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Ferreira Machado, Joana; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Lagerwall, Jan ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Physics and Materials Science Research Unit
Volpe, Ross H; University of Colarado Denver > Mechanical engineering
Yakacki, Christopher M; University of Colorado Denver > Mechanical Engineering
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Liquid crystal elastomer shell actuators with negative order parameter
Alternative titles :
[en] Liquid crystal elastomer shell actuators with negative order parameter
Publication date :
12 April 2019
Journal title :
Science Advances
ISSN :
2375-2548
Publisher :
American Association for the Advancement of Science(AAAS), Washington D.C, United States