Title: Photo-Induced Deformation of Crosslinked Liquid-Crystalline Polymer Film Oriented by Highly Aligned Carbon Nanotube Sheet

Author: Wei Wang, Xuemei Sun, Wei Wu, Huisheng Peng*, Yanlei Yu*

Journal: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2012, 51(19), 4644-4647.

Abstract:

A highly aligned carbon nanotube sheet orients crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer through a simple melting process (see picture). The resulting composite film can be rapidly bent and unbent by alternate irradiation with UV and visible light. The film also exhibits excellent mechanical and electrical properties due to the incorporation of aligned CNTs.

Fulltext Link: https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.201200723

本工作得到Nature China的Highlight评论

We have reported a novel method to fabricate a deformable CLCP composite film by using highly aligned CNTs to orient LC mesogens through a facile melting process. A rapid and reversible photoinduced deformation has been achieved by alternate irradiation by UV and visible light. Compared with CLCPs prepared with a conventional mechanical rubbing method, the CLCP/CNT composite film shows a much improved mechanical strength and high electrical conductivity. As a result of the combined properties, the CLCP/CNT composite film could be widely used as a new high-performance actuation material to drive actuators and microrobots.