Liquid Crystal Elastomers(LCEs)are renowned for their reversible deformation capabilities.Yet,enhancing their mechanical strength while retaining such flexibility has posed a considerable challenge.To overcome this,we...Liquid Crystal Elastomers(LCEs)are renowned for their reversible deformation capabilities.Yet,enhancing their mechanical strength while retaining such flexibility has posed a considerable challenge.To overcome this,we utilized 4D printing to develop an innovative composite of LCE with carbon fiber fabric(LCEC).This approach has notably increased the tensile strength of LCE by eightfold,all the while maintaining its exceptional capacity for reversible deforma-tion.By adjusting the alignment angle between carbon fiber and the LCE printing direction from 0°to 90°,the LCEC demonstrates an array of new deformation patterns,including bending,twisting,wrapping,and S-shaped transformations,which are distinct from pure LCE materials.Our study unveils that LCE composites exhibit deformation processes markedly different from their pure material counterparts,with the ability of pure LCE to sustain tensile strains exceeding 1900%.These findings,previously undocumented and unexplored,represent a substantial contribution to the field of smart materials.Employing finite element analysis,we explored the carbon fiber and LcE matrix dynamics,revealing bending mechanics in LCECs.This combined experimental and simulation approach yields crucial insights for crafting durable,high-strength LCECs with diverse deformational properties,advancing smart material technology.展开更多
In this study,a zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystals composite film with programming shape-morphing behavior and humidityresponsive self-healing performance was prepared by blending a zwitterionic polymer and liquid c...In this study,a zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystals composite film with programming shape-morphing behavior and humidityresponsive self-healing performance was prepared by blending a zwitterionic polymer and liquid crystalline azobenzene compound in solution,followed by film-forming in a mold without tedious or multistep synthetic route.The as-obtained zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystal composite film exhibited programming shape-morphing behavior under different stimuli.In this process,the temporary shape of the composite film was memorized after the removal of the stimuli.Such characteristics would fit the requirements of intelligence and energy-saving for stimuliresponsive shape-changing materials.Moreover,the composite film showed humidity-responsive self-healing performances under wet conditions at room temperature.In summary,the simple design and preparation route of the zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystal composite film with programming shape-morphing behavior and mild condition-responsive self-healing performance look promising for the fabrication and practical application of novel photo-driven devices and soft robotics.展开更多
A novel photonic composite film based on a luminescent dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based liquid crystal polymer network（LCN） was fabricated by using a silica colloidal crystal as a template. The upper part of inverse opa...A novel photonic composite film based on a luminescent dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based liquid crystal polymer network（LCN） was fabricated by using a silica colloidal crystal as a template. The upper part of inverse opal structure and the luminescence characteristics of dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based moiety endowed the resulting bilayer photonic film with structural color arising from coherent Bragg reflection and fluorescence properties, respectively. A fluorescence enhancement phenomenon was observed in the photonic film due to the overlap between the reflection band and emission band of the fluorescent LCN. More importantly, the photo-induced irreversible Z/E photoisomerization of dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based moiety in the photonic film led to both a reflection spectral shift and an observable fluorescence variation. On the basis of this effective phototuning process, microscopic patterning of photonic film was developed under both fluorescence mode and reflection mode. The work demonstrated here provides a new route to construct photo-responsive photonic film.展开更多
文摘Liquid Crystal Elastomers(LCEs)are renowned for their reversible deformation capabilities.Yet,enhancing their mechanical strength while retaining such flexibility has posed a considerable challenge.To overcome this,we utilized 4D printing to develop an innovative composite of LCE with carbon fiber fabric(LCEC).This approach has notably increased the tensile strength of LCE by eightfold,all the while maintaining its exceptional capacity for reversible deforma-tion.By adjusting the alignment angle between carbon fiber and the LCE printing direction from 0°to 90°,the LCEC demonstrates an array of new deformation patterns,including bending,twisting,wrapping,and S-shaped transformations,which are distinct from pure LCE materials.Our study unveils that LCE composites exhibit deformation processes markedly different from their pure material counterparts,with the ability of pure LCE to sustain tensile strains exceeding 1900%.These findings,previously undocumented and unexplored,represent a substantial contribution to the field of smart materials.Employing finite element analysis,we explored the carbon fiber and LcE matrix dynamics,revealing bending mechanics in LCECs.This combined experimental and simulation approach yields crucial insights for crafting durable,high-strength LCECs with diverse deformational properties,advancing smart material technology.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51773120 and 51802201)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2022A1515011985)+1 种基金the Shenzhen Science and Technology Planning Project(Nos.JCYJ20190808115609663 and JCYJ20190808123207674)the Scientific Research Project of Guangdong Provincial Department of Education(No.2020ZDZX2040).
文摘In this study,a zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystals composite film with programming shape-morphing behavior and humidityresponsive self-healing performance was prepared by blending a zwitterionic polymer and liquid crystalline azobenzene compound in solution,followed by film-forming in a mold without tedious or multistep synthetic route.The as-obtained zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystal composite film exhibited programming shape-morphing behavior under different stimuli.In this process,the temporary shape of the composite film was memorized after the removal of the stimuli.Such characteristics would fit the requirements of intelligence and energy-saving for stimuliresponsive shape-changing materials.Moreover,the composite film showed humidity-responsive self-healing performances under wet conditions at room temperature.In summary,the simple design and preparation route of the zwitterionic polymer/liquid crystal composite film with programming shape-morphing behavior and mild condition-responsive self-healing performance look promising for the fabrication and practical application of novel photo-driven devices and soft robotics.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51773009, 51573012 and 51373013)
文摘A novel photonic composite film based on a luminescent dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based liquid crystal polymer network（LCN） was fabricated by using a silica colloidal crystal as a template. The upper part of inverse opal structure and the luminescence characteristics of dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based moiety endowed the resulting bilayer photonic film with structural color arising from coherent Bragg reflection and fluorescence properties, respectively. A fluorescence enhancement phenomenon was observed in the photonic film due to the overlap between the reflection band and emission band of the fluorescent LCN. More importantly, the photo-induced irreversible Z/E photoisomerization of dicyanodistyrylbenzene-based moiety in the photonic film led to both a reflection spectral shift and an observable fluorescence variation. On the basis of this effective phototuning process, microscopic patterning of photonic film was developed under both fluorescence mode and reflection mode. The work demonstrated here provides a new route to construct photo-responsive photonic film.
