Affiliation:
1. Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Southeast University Nanjing 211189 China
2. Materials Science Graduate Program Kent State University Kent OH-44242 USA
3. College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing 210023 China
Abstract
AbstractLiquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are stimulus‐responsive materials with intrinsic anisotropy. However, it is still challenging to in situ program the mesogen alignment to realize three‐dimensional (3D) deformations with high‐resolution patterned structures. This work presents a feasible strategy to program the anisotropy of LCEs by using chalcone mesogens that can undergo a photoinduced cycloaddition reaction under linear polarized light. It is shown that by controlling the polarization director and the irradiation region, patterned alignment distribution in a freestanding LCE film can be created, which leads to complex and reversible 3D shape‐morphing behaviors. The work demonstrates an in situ light‐writing method to achieve sophisticated topography changes in LCEs, which has potential applications in encryption, sensors, and beyond.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China