A Review on Liquid Crystal Polymers in Free-Standing Reversible Shape Memory Materials
Zhibin Wen, Ke‐Ke Yang, Jean‐Marie Raquez
Abstract
Liquid crystal polymers have attracted massive attention as stimuli-responsive shape memory materials due to their unique reversible large-scale and high-speed actuations. These materials can be utilized to fabricate artificial muscles, sensors, and actuators driven by thermal order–disorder phase transition or trans–cis photoisomerization. This review collects most commonly used liquid crystal monomers and techniques to macroscopically order and align liquid crystal materials (monodomain), highlighting the unique materials on the thermal and photo responsive reversible shape memory effects. Challenges and potential future applications are also discussed.
Topics & Concepts
PhotoisomerizationMaterials scienceLiquid crystalPolymerShape-memory alloyLiquid crystallineThermalActuatorMonomerPhase transitionNanotechnologyCrystal (programming language)Chemical physicsOptoelectronicsComposite materialComputer scienceThermodynamicsChemistryIsomerizationOrganic chemistryPhysicsProgramming languageArtificial intelligenceCatalysisAdvanced Materials and MechanicsPolymer composites and self-healingPhotochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry