Liquid crystal elastomers for actuation: A perspective on structure-property-function relation

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) have long held significant promise as materials for artificial muscles and smart actuators. Recent advancements in this field have introduced innovative LCE structures at various scales, resulting in novel properties and functionalities that further accentuate their actuation advantages, bolstering their potential as future soft actuation systems. The ongoing pursuit of enhanced performance and functionality in LCE actuators, essential for advancing them towards superior material-based machines and devices, is intricately linked to the understanding of the fundamental structure-property-function relationships. This review provides a perspective on these relationships across…

• CQ
  Centre québécois sur les matériaux fonctionnels
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Award: 52303152
• SK
  State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering

  Award: sklpme2023-2-07
• SP
  Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program

  Awards: sklpme2023-2-15, 24NSFSC1050
• NS
  Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
• FD
  Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies