Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Liquid Crystalline Networks (LCNs) are widely investigated to develop actuators, from soft robots to artificial muscles. Indeed, they can produce forces and movements in response to a plethora of external stimuli, showing kinetics up to the millisecond time-scale. One of the most explored preparation technique involves the photopolymerization of an aligned layer of reactive mesogens. Following this approach, side-chain polymers are widely described, while a detailed comparison of light-responsive LCNs with different architectures is not properly addressed. In this paper, two synthetic approaches are exploited leading to photoresponsive LCNs with different architectures. Mixed main-chain/side-chain LCNs are obtained in one-pot through a thiol-acrylate chain-transfer reaction, while main-chain LCNs are achieved by a two-step approach involving an aza-Michael addition followed by acrylate crosslinking. Comparison among the two materials highlighted the superior performances in terms of tension developed upon light-activation of the former one, showing muscle-like force production comparable to standard side-chain LCNs combined with the greater ability to contract from common main-chain LCNs.
Source: Soft Matter
DOI: 10.1039/d4sm01360c
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4406140283