Liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) display extraordinary mechanical properties. The local director of LCE films can be spatially patterned in voxels via photoalignment. Here, we report for the first time that the local and hierarchical (through thickness) control of the nematic director can also impart order on nano-inclusions, in this case carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Upon exposure to a DC electric field, these CNT-LCE nanocomposite films constrict anisotropically along the director axis by up to 18%. This response occurs in less than 1 second and increases in magnitude with temperature and voltage. The orientation of the nanotubes was confirmed via Raman spectroscopy, and the alignment of the LCE was confirmed via WAXS and polarized optical microscopy. The oriented CNTs increase the modulus of the film along their orientation direction while still allowing for soft elasticity.

Pixelated polymer: Carbon nanotube nanocomposites

254th National Meeting (2017)

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