Electrospun liquid crystal elastomer microfiber actuator
Qiguang He, Zhijian Wang, Yang Wang, Zijun Wang, Chenghai Li, Raja Annapooranan, Jian Zeng, Renkun Chen, Shengqiang Cai
Abstract
cycles of loading and unloading with the maximum strain of 20 percent at high temperature (90 degree Celsius). The small diameter of the LCE microfiber also results in a self-oscillatory behavior in a steady temperature field. In addition, with a polydopamine coating layer, the actuation of the electrospun LCE microfiber can be precisely and remotely controlled by a near-infrared laser through photothermal effect. Using the electrospun LCE microfiber actuator, we have successfully constructed a microtweezer, a microrobot, and a light-powered microfluidic pump.
Topics & Concepts
MicrofiberMaterials scienceElastomerActuatorComposite materialLiquid crystalOptoelectronicsEngineeringElectrical engineeringAdvanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting MaterialsAdvanced Materials and MechanicsElectrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications