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Cheng M, Cai W, Wang Z, Chen L, Yuan D, Ma Z, Bai Z, Kong D, Cen M, Xu S, Srivastava AK, Liu YJ. Responsive Liquid Crystal Network Microstructures with Customized Shapes and Predetermined Morphing for Adaptive Soft Micro-Optics. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:31776-31787. [PMID: 38858834 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive materials have garnered substantial interest in recent years, particularly liquid crystal networks (LCNs) with sophisticatedly designed structures and morphing capabilities. Extensive efforts have been devoted to LCN structural designs spanning from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) configurations and their intricate morphing behaviors through designed alignment. However, achieving microscale structures and large-area preparation necessitates the development of novel techniques capable of facilely fabricating LCN microstructures with precise control over both overall shape and alignment, enabling a 3D-to-3D shape change. Herein, a simple and cost-effective in-cell soft lithography (ICSL) technique is proposed to create LCN microstructures with customized shapes and predesigned morphing. The ICSL technique involves two sequential steps: fabricating the desired microstructure as the template by using the photopolymerization-induced phase separation (PIPS) method and reproducing the LCN microstructures through templating. Meanwhile, surface anchoring is employed to design and achieve molecular alignment, accommodating different deformation modes. With the proposed ICSL technique, cylindrical and spherical microlens arrays (CMLAs and SMLAs) have been successfully fabricated with stimulus-driven polarization-dependent focusing effects. This technique offers distinct advantages including high customizability, large-area production, and cost-effectiveness, which pave a new avenue for extensive applications in different fields, exemplified by adaptive soft micro-optics and photonics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Cheng
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies, and Centre for Display Research, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Wenfeng Cai
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhenming Wang
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dandan Yuan
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zongjun Ma
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ziyan Bai
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Delai Kong
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Mengjia Cen
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shaolin Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Abhishek Kumar Srivastava
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Displays and Optoelectronics Technologies, and Centre for Display Research, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yan Jun Liu
- Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Optical Fiber and Cable Manufacture Technology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Jin B, Zhu Z, Wong TW, Chen G. Network Topology Optimization for Alignment Programming of a Dynamic Liquid Crystalline Organo-Gel. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:1486-1490. [PMID: 37874195 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) exhibit muscle-like actuation upon an external stimulus. To control this, various alignment programming strategies have been developed over the past decades. Among them, force-directed solvent evaporation, namely, that the alignment depends on the applied external force during solvent evaporation, is appreciated for its universality in material design and versatility in attainable actuations. Here, we investigate the influence of network topology on the alignment programming of a liquid crystalline (LC) organo-gel via varying feeding ratios of the monomers. As a result, distinct self-supporting actuations can be repeatedly introduced into a topology-optimized LC organo-gel. Beyond this, the bond exchange reaction of the embedded ester groups can be activated upon heating, which enables alignment manipulation based on dynamic network reconfiguration after drying. The availability of inviting two distinct programming strategies into one LCE network allows us to regulate the LCE alignment at both the gel and dried states, offering ample room to diversify actuation manners. Our design principle shall be adopted by other dynamic LCE systems owing to its maneuverability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tuck-Whye Wong
- Membrane Technology Research Centre, School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Malaysia
| | - Guancong Chen
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, Zhejiang, China
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Chen G, Feng H, Zhou X, Gao F, Zhou K, Huang Y, Jin B, Xie T, Zhao Q. Programming actuation onset of a liquid crystalline elastomer via isomerization of network topology. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6822. [PMID: 37884494 PMCID: PMC10603074 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42594-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuning actuation temperatures of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) achieves control of their actuation onsets, which is generally accomplished in the synthesis step and cannot be altered afterward. Multiple actuation onsets in one LCE can be encoded if the post-synthesis regulation of actuation temperature can be spatiotemporally achieved. This would allow realizing a logical time-evolution of actuation, desired for future soft robots. Nevertheless, this task is challenging given the additional need to ensure mesogen alignment required for actuation. We achieved this goal with a topology isomerizable network (TIN) of LCE containing aromatic and aliphatic esters in the mesogenic and amorphous phases, respectively. These two ester bonds can be distinctly activated for transesterification. The homolytic bond exchange between aliphatic esters allows mechanically induced mesogen alignment without affecting the mesogenic phase. Most importantly, the heterolytic exchange between aromatic and aliphatic esters changes the actuation temperature under different conditions. Spatial control of the two mechanisms via a photo-latent catalyst unleashes the freedom in regulating actuation temperature distribution, yielding unusual controllability in actuation geometries and logical sequence. Our principle is generally applicable to common LCEs containing both aromatic and aliphatic esters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guancong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haijun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaorui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Textile Fiber Materials & Processing Technology, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Youju Huang
- College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binjie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Tao Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, Zhejiang, China.
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Bauman GE, Hoang JD, Toney MF, White TJ. Degree of Orientation in Liquid Crystalline Elastomers Defines the Magnitude and Rate of Actuation. ACS Macro Lett 2023; 12:248-254. [PMID: 36715430 DOI: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.2c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The anisotropy of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is derived from the interaction-facilitated orientation of the molecular constituents. Here, we correlate the thermomechanical response of a series of LCEs subjected to mechanical alignment to measurements of the Hermans orientation parameter. The LCEs were systematically prepared with varying concentrations of liquid crystalline mesogens, which affects the relative degree of achievable order. These compositions were subject to varying degrees of mechanical alignment to prepare LCEs with orientations that span a wide range of orientation parameters. The stimuli-response of the LCEs indicates that the liquid crystalline content defines the temperature of actuation, whereas the orientation parameter of the LCE is intricately correlated to both the total actuation strain of the LCE as well as the rate of thermomechanical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant E Bauman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jonathan D Hoang
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 613 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Michael F Toney
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 613 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States.,Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, 027 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Timothy J White
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado Boulder, 613 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
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Bauman GE, McCracken JM, White TJ. Actuation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers at or Below Ambient Temperature. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202202577. [PMID: 35482590 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202202577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) are an emerging class of material actuators. LCE undergo macroscopic dimensional changes when subjected to a stimulus. The large stimuli-response of LCE is associated with thermotropic disruption of order. Historically, comparatively high temperatures are required to disrupt orientation in LCE to achieve meaningful work output. Here, we introduce an approach to prepare LCE via thiol-Michael/thiol-ene reactions that actuate at or below ambient temperature. Alignment was imparted to the LCE by mechanical alignment and 3D printing. The LCE materials detailed here achieve strains of 40 % with a maximum deformation rate of 6.5 % °C-1 . The functional utility of the tunability of the thermotropic response of these materials is illustrated in reconfiguration triggered via body heat and sequential actuation of a multi-material element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant E Bauman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Joselle M McCracken
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Timothy J White
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 596 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
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Bauman GE, McCracken JM, White TJ. Actuation of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers at or Below Ambient Temperature. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202202577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Grant E. Bauman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder 596 UCB Boulder CO 80309 USA
| | - Joselle M. McCracken
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder 596 UCB Boulder CO 80309 USA
| | - Timothy J. White
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering University of Colorado Boulder 596 UCB Boulder CO 80309 USA
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Guo Y, Lee J, Son J, Ahn SK, Carrillo JMY, Sumpter BG. Decoding Liquid Crystal Oligomer Phase Transitions: Toward Molecularly Engineered Shape Changing Materials. Macromolecules 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b01218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhang Guo
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Jieun Lee
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Jinha Son
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Suk-kyun Ahn
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
| | - Jan-Michael Y. Carrillo
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Bobby G. Sumpter
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Computational Sciences and Engineering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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