Abstract
There is an increasing interest in animating materials to develop dynamic surfaces. These dynamic surfaces can be utilized for advanced applications, including switchable wetting, friction, and lubrication. Dynamic surfaces can also improve existing technologies, for example, by integrating self-cleaning surfaces on solar cells. In this Spotlight on Applications, we describe our most recent advances in liquid crystal polymer network (LCN) dynamic surfaces, focusing on substrate-based topographies and dynamic porous networks. We discuss our latest insights in the mechanisms of deformation with the “free volume” principle. We illustrate the scope of LCN technology through various examples of photo-/electropatterning, free-volume channeling, oscillating/programmable network distortion, and porous LCNs. Finally, we close by discussing prominent applications of LCNs and their outlook.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 22697-22705 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 20 |
Early online date | 10 Feb 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 May 2022 |
Funding
We thank The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO OCENW.KLEIN. 10854, START-UP 8872) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant Agreement 956150 (STORM-BOTS)for financial support.
Funders | Funder number |
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European Union's Horizon 2020 - Research and Innovation Framework Programme | 956150 |
Keywords
- dynamic surface topographies
- free volume
- liquid crystal polymer networks
- liquid secretion
- soft robotic functions