Photoinduced Topographical Feature Development in Blueprinted Azobenzene-Functionalized Liquid Crystalline Elastomers Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Alloptical deformation and recovery of complex topographical features is demonstrated within elastic sheets composed of mainchain type azobenzenefunctionalized liquid crystalline elastomers (azoLCEs). The azoLCEs are synthesized via an orthogonal, twostep reaction between commercially available LC monomers and nbutylamine. By employing surface alignment, the local orientation of the nematic director is spatially complex (blueprinted). Exposing the blueprinted LCE films to light as an actinic stimulus generates a photomechanical response which yields reversible shape changes between 2D and 3D shapes. The deformation of azoLCEs strongly depends on the azobenzene concentration as well as the network structure (i.e., crosslink density). Blueprinting complex director profiles within azoLCEs yield reconfigurable elastic sheets that can be addressed both remotely and selectively which may have benefit in a variety of applications in aerospace, medicine, and optics.

published proceedings

  • ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS

altmetric score

  • 4.5

author list (cited authors)

  • Ahn, S., Ware, T. H., Lee, K. M., Tondiglia, V. P., & White, T. J.

citation count

  • 139

publication date

  • August 2016

publisher