RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Three-dimensional printing of functionally graded liquid crystal elastomer
JF Science Advances
JO Sci Adv
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP eabc0034
DO 10.1126/sciadv.abc0034
VO 6
IS 39
A1 Wang, Zijun
A1 Wang, Zhijian
A1 Zheng, Yue
A1 He, Qiguang
A1 Wang, Yang
A1 Cai, Shengqiang
YR 2020
UL http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/39/eabc0034.abstract
AB As a promising actuating material, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) has been intensively explored in building diverse active structures and devices. Recently, direct ink writing technique has been developed to print LCE structures with various geometries and actuation behaviors. Despite the advancement in printing LCE, it remains challenging to print three-dimensional (3D) LCE structures with graded properties. Here, we report a facile method to tailor both the actuation behavior and mechanical properties of printed LCE filaments by varying printing parameters. On the basis of the comprehensive processing-structure-property relationship, we propose a simple strategy to print functionally graded LCEs, which greatly increases the design space for creating active morphing structures. We further demonstrate mitigation of stress concentration near the interface between an actuatable LCE tube and a rigid glass plate through gradient printing. The strategy developed here will facilitate potential applications of LCEs in different fields.