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Dual-wavelength photopatterning unlocks spatially programmable heterogeneity in liquid crystal elastomers
One-line summary
A solar energy research paper on Dual-wavelength photopatterning unlocks spatially programmable heterogeneity in liquid crystal elastomers.
Engineering notes
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Chinese explanation / 中文解读
中文解读待补充：本站会优先为光伏效率、钙钛矿太阳能电池、储能技术、太阳能热利用、BIPV、并网技术等高价值论文补充中文说明。
Original abstract
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are blooming in soft robotics and intelligent devices due to their reversible and anisotropic deformation. To imitate sophisticated biological systems, photopatterning plays a crucial role in introducing programmable spatial heterogeneity into LCEs, due to its high resolution and non-contact operational simplicity. However, current photo-regulation methods either modify pre-formed homogeneous networks, offering limited tunability, or inevitably rely on thermal curing and specially designed monomers/reactions, which compromises spatial resolution, flexibility, and generality. Here, we introduce a dual-wavelength photopatterning strategy that enables spatially programmable heterogeneity directly during synthesis, using two wavelength of lights and the most widely accessible thiol-acrylate formulation in LCEs. By selectively triggering radical-mediated (365 nm) or base-catalyzed polymerization (450 nm), we create hard and soft networks with distinct properties. By flexibly regulating the triggering sequence and duration, we achieved seamless integration of continuous gradients within a single LCE: achieving the continuous tuning of modulus (1.3-14.8 MPa), actuation strain (54-93%) and, the broadest tuning range of nematic-isotropic transition temperature (Ti, 55-110 °C). It is indicated that even conventional LCE formulations can achieve multilevel encryption, mechanical differentiation, and bio‑inspired sequential actuation. This strategy establishes a versatile platform for designing functionally heterogeneous LCE devices for next-generation soft materials. Liquid crystal elastomers are of interest for soft robotics, though it is challenging to program response. Here the authors use a dual wavelength photopatterning method to tune mechanical properties and responsiveness.
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