Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystals and Displays, Volume. 40, Issue 6, 836(2025)
Preparation and photo-magnetic actuation properties of bilayer composite liquid crystal elastomers
In order to endow liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) with multiple-stimuli-responsiveness and enhance their potential application in flexible robotics, we developed an interfacial polymerization strategy to fabricate a bilayer nanocomposite LCE with photochemical, photothermal, and magnetic responsiveness. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with octa-vinyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS@Fe3O4 NPs) were sprayed onto the surface of partially polymerized azobenzene LCE, and then induced the free radical polymerization between the unreacted acrylic-ester groups in the polymeric matrix and the abundant vinyl on the magnetic nanomaterials layer, to yield a POSS@Fe3O4 NPs-LCE composite (PFe-LCEs) with a tightly-integrated organic-inorganic interface. With merits of the UV-induced isomerization of azobenzene mesogens and the photothermal conversion capability of POSS@ Fe3O4 NPs, the composite elastomer could generate a 200° bending in 2 s under UV irradiation and returned to its initial state within 7.5 s under infrared light exposure. In contrast, utilizing visible light irradiation for 50 s can only restore 83% of the original shape. Additionally, this material exhibits magnetic responsiveness, allowing it to deflect under an applied magnetic field. The PFe-LCE was used to fabricate a quadrupedal transport robot capable of grasping, transporting, and releasing cargo through light-magnetic synergistic actuation in a complex environment. The demonstrated environmental adaptability highlighted a novel strategy for intelligent actuation in soft robotics.
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Yujie CAI, Huaiping CONG. Preparation and photo-magnetic actuation properties of bilayer composite liquid crystal elastomers[J]. Chinese Journal of Liquid Crystals and Displays, 2025, 40(6): 836
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Received: Mar. 20, 2025
Accepted: --
Published Online: Jul. 14, 2025
The Author Email: Huaiping CONG (hpcong@hfut.edu.cn)