Guided Folding of Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Sheets into 3D via Patterned 1D Microchannels.

Xia, Yu; Cedillo-Servin, Gerardo; Kamien, Randall D; Yang, Shu · Adv Mater · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Two-dimensional liquid-crystal elastomer (LCE) sheets with preprogrammed topological defects are prepared by aligning liquid-crystal monomers within micropatterned epoxy channels, followed by photopolymerization. Upon heating, the LCE films form various three-dimensional structures in agreement with theoretical design. The miniaturized LCE actuators offer large-area work capacities (≈1.05 J m<sup>-2</sup> ) to lift over 700 times their own weight.