Porous Liquid‐Crystalline Networks with Hydrogel‐Like Actuation and Reconfigurable Function. (18th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jiang, Jie; Han, Li; Ge, Feijie; Xiao, Yaoyu; Cheng, Ruidong; Tong, Xia; Zhao, Yue
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 134:Number 9(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-01-18
• Subjects: Hydrogel-Like Swelling -- Porous Liquid-Crystalline Network -- Reconfigurable Function -- Reversible Shape Change -- Soft Actuator; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.202116689
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: A porous liquid‐crystalline network (LCN), prepared by using a template method, was found to exhibit peculiar actuation functions. The creation of porosity makes the initially hydrophobic LCN behave like a hydrogel, capable of absorbing a large volume of water (up to ten times the sample size of LCN). When the amount of absorbed water is relatively small (about 100 % swelling ratio), the porous LCN displays anisotropic swelling in water and, in the same time, the retained uniaxial alignment of mesogens ensures a thermally induced shape change associated with a LC‐isotropic phase transition. Combining the characteristic actuation mechanisms of LCN (order–disorder transition of mesogens) and hydrogel (water absorption), such porous LCNs can be explored for versatile stimuli‐triggered shape transformations. Moreover, the porosity enables loading/removal/reloading of functional fillers such as ionic liquids, photothermal dyes and fluorophores, which imparts the porous LCN actuator with reconfigurable functions such as ionic conductivity, light‐driven locomotion, and emissive color. Abstract : A porous liquid‐crystalline network can swell in water for actuation through both water absorption and order–disorder phase transition, and be loaded with functional fillers to display reconfigurable functions.