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Liquid crystalline network (LCN) actuator normally deforms upon thermally or optically induced order-disorder phase transition, switching once between two shapes (shape-1 in LC phase and shape-2 in isotropic state) for each stimulation on/off cycle. Herein, we report a novel type of LCN actuator that deforms from shape-1 to shape-2 and then reverses the deformation direction back to shape-1 or to a new shape-3 on heating or under light only, meaning that the actuator can complete the shape switch twice for one stimulation on/off cycle. The deformation reversal capability is obtained with a monolithic LCN actuator whose two sides are made to start deforming at different temperatures and exerting different reversible strains, which can be realized through asymmetrical crosslinking and/or asymmetrical stretching of the two sides in preparing the LCN actuator. This desynchronized actuation strategy offers new possibilities in developing light-fueled LCN soft robots. In particular, the multi-stage bidirectional shape change can be used to achieve multimodal, light-driven locomotion with different moving speeds from the same LCN actuator by simply varying the light on/off times to confine shape switch in a specific sub-stage.
Keywords
liquid crystal polymers, deformation reversal, soft actuators, desynchronized actuation, multi-mode locomotion
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- DescriptionofAdditionalSupplementaryFiles.docx
- SupplementaryMovie1.mp4
Movie S1
- SupplementaryMovie2.mp4
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- SupplementaryMovie5.mp4
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- SupplementaryMovie6.mp4
Movie S6
- SupplementaryMovie7.mp4
Movie S7
- SupplementaryMovie8.mp4
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- SupplementaryMovie9.mp4
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- NCSI.docx
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This preprint is under consideration at a Nature Portfolio Journal. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Nature journals have partnered with Research Square to offer In Review, a journal-integrated preprint deposition service.
Article
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 28 Sep, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Liquid crystalline network (LCN) actuator normally deforms upon thermally or optically induced order-disorder phase transition, switching once between two shapes (shape-1 in LC phase and shape-2 in isotropic state) for each stimulation on/off cycle. Herein, we report a novel type of LCN actuator that deforms from shape-1 to shape-2 and then reverses the deformation direction back to shape-1 or to a new shape-3 on heating or under light only, meaning that the actuator can complete the shape switch twice for one stimulation on/off cycle. The deformation reversal capability is obtained with a monolithic LCN actuator whose two sides are made to start deforming at different temperatures and exerting different reversible strains, which can be realized through asymmetrical crosslinking and/or asymmetrical stretching of the two sides in preparing the LCN actuator. This desynchronized actuation strategy offers new possibilities in developing light-fueled LCN soft robots. In particular, the multi-stage bidirectional shape change can be used to achieve multimodal, light-driven locomotion with different moving speeds from the same LCN actuator by simply varying the light on/off times to confine shape switch in a specific sub-stage.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
There is NO Competing Interest.
This is a list of supplementary files associated with this preprint. Click to download.
- DescriptionofAdditionalSupplementaryFiles.docx
- SupplementaryMovie1.mp4
Movie S1
- SupplementaryMovie2.mp4
Movie S2
- SupplementaryMovie3.mp4
Movie S3
- SupplementaryMovie4.mp4
Movie S4
- SupplementaryMovie5.mp4
Movie S5
- SupplementaryMovie6.mp4
Movie S6
- SupplementaryMovie7.mp4
Movie S7
- SupplementaryMovie8.mp4
Movie S8
- SupplementaryMovie9.mp4
Movie S9
- NCSI.docx
Supporting Information
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