Article (Scientific journals)
Liquid crystal elastomer shells with topological defect-defined actuation: Complex shape morphing, opening/closing, and unidirectional rotation
SHARMA, Anjali; Stoffel, A. M.; LAGERWALL, Jan
2021In Journal of Applied Physics, 129 (17), p. 174701
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Abstract :
[en] We produce hollow sphere liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuators from a nematic precursor mixture, brought into the shape of a self-closing shell with tangential anchoring of the director field n(r), using a solvent-assisted microfluidic technique. By separating the shell production from the polymerization and cross-linking, the precursor is allowed to approach its equilibrium n(r) configuration in the shell, spontaneously forming topological defects of total strength +2. However, the photopolymerization into an LCE induces a brief but strong distortion of the overall n(r) and the defect configuration, even changing the ground state shape in the case of thick shells. The resulting LCE shells show a rich capacity for reversible shape morphing upon heating and cooling, the exact actuation mode defined by n(r), and the final defect configuration stabilized at the end of polymerization. In regions with a single +1 defect, a reversal of curvature from concave to convex is found, punctured shells exhibit a strong shape change between a nearly closed sphere at low temperature and an open-ended spherocylinder at high temperature, and all shells rotate upon actuation when suspended in a fluid. As the rotation is stronger during relaxation than during actuation, thus breaking the symmetry, the net rotation is unidirectional.
Disciplines :
Physics
Author, co-author :
SHARMA, Anjali ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) > Department of Physics and Materials Science (DPHYMS)
Stoffel, A. M.
LAGERWALL, Jan  ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) > Department of Physics and Materials Science (DPHYMS)
External co-authors :
no
Language :
English
Title :
Liquid crystal elastomer shells with topological defect-defined actuation: Complex shape morphing, opening/closing, and unidirectional rotation
Publication date :
03 May 2021
Journal title :
Journal of Applied Physics
ISSN :
0021-8979
eISSN :
1089-7550
Publisher :
American Institute of Physics, Melville, United States - New York
Special issue title :
Special Topic on Programmable Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Volume :
129
Issue :
17
Pages :
174701
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Focus Area :
Physics and Materials Science
European Projects :
H2020 - 648763 - INTERACT - Intelligent Non-woven Textiles and Elastomeric Responsive materials by Advancing liquid Crystal Technology
FnR Project :
FNR10935404 - Materials For Sensing And Energy Harvesting, 2015 (01/10/2016-31/03/2023) - Emmanuel Defay
Funders :
CE - Commission Européenne
FNR - Fonds National de la Recherche
European Union
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since 08 February 2022

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