Abstract
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have been actively investigated as stimuli-controlled actuators and soft robots. The basis of these applications is the ability of LCEs to undergo a reversible shape change upon a liquid crystalline (LC)-isotropic phase transition. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel LCE based on a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP). In contrast to known LCEs, this LCE exhibits a striking anomalous shape change. Subjecting a mechanically stretched monodomain strip to LC-disorder phase transition, both the length and width of the strip contract in isotropic phase, and both elongate in LC phase. This thermally induced behaviour is the result of a subtle interplay between the relaxation of polymer main chain oriented along the stretching direction and the disordering of side-group mesogens oriented perpendicularly to the stretching direction. This finding points out potential design of LCEs of this peculiar type and possible applications to exploit.
Published Version
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