Analysis of Deformation Sensing Characteristics Utilizing Structural Color of Chiral Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Soft photonic materials capable of strain‐induced structural color changes offer a visual, reversible, and energy‐free approach for mechanical sensing. Here, we systematically examine how elastic modulus regulates the mechanical and optical responses of chiral liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs). CLCE films with distinct elastic moduli were fabricated by tuning the ratio of reactive mesogens to thiol–acrylate crosslinkers, and their mechano‐optical behaviors were analyzed through tensile testing and real‐time reflection measurements. Importantly, the force–color sensitivity (Δλc/F) increased significantly with modulus, as stiffer networks required larger forces to generate the same geometric deformation. These results demonstrate that crosslinking density predominantly governs the force–color coupling, highlighting elastic modulus as a key material parameter for programming optical responsivity in mechanically tunable photonic sensors.
DOI: 10.56767/jfpe.250018
Author: Seungmin Nam
Institution: Chosun University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: Chosun University
OpenAlex ID: W7128436833