Liquid crystalline elastomers are stimuli-responsive materials capable of large deformation when subject to heat, light, or electric field.  They are increasingly considered for functional use in applications in soft robotics, medicine, and consumer goods.  Our recent research efforts have generally focused on enhancing the stimuli-response of these materials by incorporating dynamic chemistries.  In one example, our recent work demonstrates an enhancement in thermomechanical response attributable to the inclusion of supramolecular bonds in a dimeric mesogen in the polymer network. In another example, ongoing research in our laboratory has prepared materials with complex alignment via directed self-assembly that incorporate dynamic covalent bonds that facilitate additional programmability to the stimuli-response.

Programming liquid crystalline elastomers facilitated by dynamic chemistry

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.