Liquid-crystalline elastomer-nanoparticle hybrids with reversible switch of magnetic memory.

Haberl, Johannes M; Sánchez-Ferrer, Antoni; Mihut, Adriana M; Dietsch, Hervé; Hirt, Ann M; Mezzenga, Raffaele · Adv Mater · 2013

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A stimuli-responsive material is synthesized that combines the actuation potential of liquid-crystalline elastomers with the anisotropic magnetic properties of ellipsoidal iron oxide nanoparticles. The resulting nanocomposite exhibits unique shape-memory features with magnetic information, which can be reversibly stored and erased via parameters typical of soft materials, such as high deformations, low stresses, and liquid-crystalline smectic-isotropic transition temperatures.