articleMicromachinesFeb 25, 2026GOLD OA

A Light-Driven Self-Spinning and Translation Disc Exploiting Photothermal Liquid Crystal Elastomers

CLCong LiLXLeyi XuYDYuntong DaiYDYu Dai

Anhui Jianzhu University

PubMed
Indexed incrossrefdoajpubmed

Abstract

Self-sustained oscillatory systems enable autonomous motion through continuous interaction with ambient energy sources, positioning them as promising candidates for soft robotic actuation, energy conversion, and biomedical applications. However, their utility is often limited by inherent vibrations and frictional losses, which can lead to impaired efficiency and generate noise. To overcome these limitations, a continuously rotating disc mechanism is proposed, which exploits the photothermal response of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) under uniform illumination. The resulting temperature field within the material is obtained via photothermal modeling of the LCE. The rotational actuation torque is generated…

Citation impact

5
total citations
FWCI
38.45
Percentile
100%
References
74
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Authors

4

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Mechanical energy
  • Liquid crystal
  • Photothermal therapy
  • Actuator
  • Vibration
  • Rotation around a fixed axis
  • Energy transformation
  • Elastomer
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Affordable and clean energy
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