Accordion‐like Actuators of Multiple 3D Patterned Liquid Crystal Polymer Films. (30th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Haan, Laurens T.; Gimenez‐Pinto, Vianney; Konya, Andrew; Nguyen, Thanh‐Son; Verjans, Julien M. N.; Sánchez‐Somolinos, Carlos; Selinger, Jonathan V.; Selinger, Robin L. B.; Broer, Dirk J.; Schenning, Albertus P. H. J.
• Is Part Of: Advanced functional materials. Volume 24:Number 9(2014)
• Page Start: 1251
• Page End: 1258
• Publication Date: 2013-10-30
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemical vapor deposition -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201302568
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1616-301X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This work describes the fabrication, characterization, and modelling of liquid crystalline polymer network films with a multiple patterned 3D nematic director profile, a stimuli‐responsive material that exhibits complex mechanical actuation under change of temperature or pH. These films have a discrete alternating striped or checkerboard director profile in the plane, and a 90‐degree twist through the depth of the film. When actuated via heating, the striped films deform into accordion‐like folds, while the film patterned with a checkerboard microstructure buckles out‐of‐plane. Furthermore, striped films are fabricated so that they also deform into an accordion shaped fold, by a change of pH in an aqueous environment. Three‐dimensional finite element simulations and elasticity analysis provide insight into the dependence of shape evolution on director microstructure and the sample's aspect ratio.</p> </abstract>