Title: Light-responsive Actuation Materials Based on the Photodeformable Liquid Crystal Polymers

Author: Jianqiang Zhao, Futao Cheng, Yanlei Yu*

Journal: Proc. SPIE, 2011, 810705.

Abstract:

Two acrylate monomers and two diacrylate crosslinkers containing a long spacer were synthesized and crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer (CLCP) films with different concentrations of azobenzene were prepared by photopolymerization of the mixtures of the monomers and the crosslinkers. All the monomers, crosslinkers and polymerizable mixtures exhibited LC phases in heating or/and cooling processes. Due to the relatively long spacer, the obtained CLCP films exhibited a glass transition around 30 °C, which allows the CLCP films to undergo photodeformations at room temperature. In addition, when the concentration of azobenzene decreased, the films bent towards the light source with a faster speed and a larger photoinduced mechanical force.

Fulltext Link: 

https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/8107/810705/Light-responsive-actuation-materials-based-on-the-photodeformable-liquid-crystal/10.1117/12.897451.full

Two acrylate monomers and two diacrylate crosslinkers containing a long spacer were synthesized and crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer (CLCP) films with different concentrations of azobenzene were prepared by photopolymerization of the mixtures of the monomers and the crosslinkers. All the monomers, crosslinkers and polymerizable mixtures exhibited LC phases in heating or/and cooling processes. Due to the relatively long spacer, the obtained CLCP films exhibited a glass transition around 30 °C, which allows the CLCP films to undergo photodeformations at room temperature. In addition, when the concentration of azobenzene decreased, the films bent towards the light source with a faster speed and a larger photoinduced mechanical force.