Humidity-responsive liquid crystalline polymer actuators with an asymmetry in the molecular trigger that bend, fold, and curl

L.T. Haan, de, J.M.N. Verjans, D.J. Broer, C.W.M. Bastiaansen, A.P.H.J. Schenning

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

292 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We show a versatile method for the preparation of a variety of humidity-responsive actuators based on a single sheet of a hydrogen-bonded, uniaxially aligned liquid crystal polymer network. In this approach, the asymmetry in the molecular trigger in the anisotropic polymer film plays a dominant role leading to programmed deformation events. The material is locally treated with a potassium hydroxide solution to create the asymmetry in the responsiveness toward humidity, which allows to prepare actuators that bend, fold, or curl.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10585-10588
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society
Volume136
Issue number30
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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