Self‐sustained actuation from heat dissipation in liquid crystal polymer networks

ABSTRACT Liquid crystal polymer networks (LCNs) lead the research geared toward macroscopic motion of materials. These actuators are molecularly programed to adapt their shape in response to external stimuli. Non‐photo‐responsive thin films of LCNs covered with heat absorbers (e.g., graphene or ink)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2018-07, Vol.56 (13), p.1331-1336
Main Authors: Vantomme, Ghislaine, Gelebart, Anne Helene, Broer, Dirk Jan, Meijer, E. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actuation
Actuators
adaptive materials
Deformation
Dissipation
Film thickness
liquid crystal polymer networks
Liquid crystal polymers
Liquid crystals
liquid‐crystalline polymers
Mechanical oscillators
Molecular chains
networks and stimuli‐sensitive polymers
Original
oscillatory motion
photo‐thermal effect
Polymer chemistry
Polymers
Product design
soft robotics
Thin films
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Summary:ABSTRACT Liquid crystal polymer networks (LCNs) lead the research geared toward macroscopic motion of materials. These actuators are molecularly programed to adapt their shape in response to external stimuli. Non‐photo‐responsive thin films of LCNs covered with heat absorbers (e.g., graphene or ink) are shown to continuously oscillate when exposed to light. The motion is governed by the heat dissipated at the film surface and the anisotropic thermal deformation of the network. The influence of the LC molecular alignment, the film thickness, and the LC matrix on the macroscopic motion is analyzed to probe the limits of the system. The insights gained from these experiments provide not only guidelines to create actuators by photo‐thermal or pure photo‐effects but also a simple method to generate mechanical oscillators for soft robotics and automated systems. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1331–1336 An oscillating actuator driven by light and working with pure thermal effect is studied. The liquid crystal molecular alignment in the polymer network and the mechanical properties of the material control the motion. The surface deposition of heat absorbed at the localized zone on the inactive polymer is sufficient to observe out‐of‐equilibrium motion.
ISSN:0887-624X
1099-0518
DOI:10.1002/pola.29032