Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photodeformable Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs)

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Part of the book series: Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series ((POPOC))

  • 685 Accesses

Abstract

Collecting and amplifying the nanoscopic molecular motions into macroscopic deformation are the basic properties of crosslinked liquid crystalline polymers (CLCPs), which can even directly transfer input light energy into mechanical work when combined with photochromophores, thus fascinating many scientists. This article reviews the macroscopic and microscopic deformation of photoresponsive CLCPs based on photochemical phase transition and photothermal effect. In addition, we highlight some new methods to trigger the deformation driven by visible and infrared light instead of ultraviolet one, such as chemical modification of azobenzene and addition of upconversion materials.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Camacho-Lopez M, Finkelmann H, Palffy-Muhoray P, Shelley M (2004) Fast liquid-crystal elastomer swims into the dark. Nat Mater 3:307–310

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen ML, Xing X, Liu Z, Zhu YT, Liu H, Yu YL, Cheng FT (2010) Photodeformable polymer material: towards light-driven micropump applications. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 100:39–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen ML, Huang HT, Zhu YT, Liu Z, Xing X, Cheng FT, Yu YL (2011) Photodeformable CLCP material: study on photo-activated microvalve applications. Appl Phys A Mater Sci Process 102:667–672

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng FT, Yin RY, Zhang YY, Yen CC, Yu YL (2010a) Fully plastic microrobots which manipulate objects using only visible light. Soft Matter 6:3447–3449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng FT, Zhang YY, Yin RY, Yu YL (2010b) Visible light induced bending and unbending behavior of crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer films containing azotolane moieties. J Mater Chem 20:4888–4896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Gennes PG (1975) One type of nematic polymers. Cr Acad Sci B Phys 281:101–103

    Google Scholar 

  • de Haan LT, Sanchez-Somolinos C, Bastiaansen CMW, Schenning APHJ, Broer DJ (2012) Engineering of complex order and the macroscopic deformation of liquid crystal polymer networks. Angew Chem Int Ed 51:12469–12472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finkelmann H, Nishikawa E, Pereira GG, Warner M (2001) A new opto-mechanical effect in solids. Phys Rev Lett 87:015501

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris KD, Cuypers R, Scheibe P, van Oosten CL, Bastiaansen CWM, Lub J, Broer DJ (2005) Large amplitude light-induced motion in high elastic modulus polymer actuators. J Mater Chem 15:5043–5048

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iamsaard S, Asshoff SJ, Matt B, Kudernac T, Cornelissen JJLM, Fletcher SP, Katsonis N (2014) Conversion of light into macroscopic helical motion. Nat Chem 6:229–235

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda T (2003) Photomodulation of liquid crystal orientations for photonic applications. J Mater Chem 13:2037–2057

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda T, Nakano M, Yu YL, Tsutsumi O, Kanazawa A (2003) Anisotropic bending and unbending behavior of azobenzene liquid-crystalline gels by light exposure. Adv Mater 15:201–205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda T, Mamiya J, Yu YL (2007) Photomechanics of liquid-crystalline elastomers and other polymers. Angew Chem Int Ed 46:506–528

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Z, Xu M, Li FY, Yu YL (2013) Red-light-controllable liquid-crystal soft actuators via low-power excited upconversion based on triplet-triplet annihilation. J Am Chem Soc 135:16446–16453

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kohlmeyer RR, Chen J (2013) Wavelength-selective, IR light-driven hinges based on liquid crystalline elastomer composites. Angew Chem Int Ed 52:9234–9237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kupfer J, Finkelmann H (1991) Nematic liquid single-crystal elastomers. Makromol Chem-Rapid Commun 12:717–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Keller P, Li B, Wang XG, Brunet M (2003) Light-driven side-on nematic elastomer actuators. Adv Mater 15:569–572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li CS, Liu Y, Huang XZ, Jiang HR (2012a) Direct sun-driven artificial heliotropism for solar energy harvesting based on a photo-thermomechanical liquid-crystal elastomer nanocomposite. Adv Funct Mater 22:5166–5174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Cheng FT, Lv JA, Zhao Y, Liu MJ, Jiang L, Yu YL (2012b) Light-controlled quick switch of adhesion on a micro-arrayed liquid crystal polymer superhydrophobic film. Soft Matter 8:3730–3733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohm C, Brehmer M, Zentel R (2010) Liquid crystalline elastomers as actuators and sensors. Adv Mater 22:3366–3387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tazuke S, Kurihara S, Ikeda T (1987) Amplified image recording in liquid-crystal media by means of photochemically triggered phase-transition. Chem Lett 16:911–914

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ube T, Ikeda T (2014) Photomobile polymer materials with crosslinked liquid-crystalline structures: molecular design, fabrication, and functions. Angew Chem Int Ed 53:10290–10299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Oosten CL, Bastiaansen CWM, Broer DJ (2009) Printed artificial cilia from liquid-crystal network actuators modularly driven by light. Nat Mater 8:677–682

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Sun XM, Wu W, Peng HS, Yu YL (2012) Photoinduced deformation of crosslinked liquid-crystalline polymer film oriented by a highly aligned carbon nanotube sheet. Angew Chem Int Ed 51:4644–4647

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White TJ, Broer DJ (2015) Programmable and adaptive mechanics with liquid crystal polymer networks and elastomers. Nat Mater 14:1087–1098

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu W, Yao LM, Yang TS, Yin RY, Li FY, Yu YL (2011) NIR-light-induced deformation of cross-linked liquid-crystal polymers using upconversion nanophosphors. J Am Chem Soc 133:15810–15813

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada M, Kondo M, Mamiya J, Yu YL, Kinoshita M, Barrett CJ, Ikeda T (2008) Photomobile polymer materials: towards light-driven plastic motors. Angew Chem Int Ed 47:4986–4988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada M, Kondo M, Miyasato R, Naka Y, Mamiya J, Kinoshita M, Shishido A, Yu YL, Barrett CJ, Ikeda T (2009) Photomobile polymer materials-various three-dimensional movements. J Mater Chem 19:60–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Z, Ji XM, Wu W, Wei J, Yu YL (2012) Light-switchable behavior of a microarray of azobenzene liquid crystal polymer induced by photodeformation. Macromol Rapid Commun 33:1362–1367

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yin RY, Xu WX, Kondo M, Yen CC, Mamiya J, Ikeda T, Yu YL (2009) Can sunlight drive the photoinduced bending of polymer films? J Mater Chem 19:3141–3143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshino T, Kondo M, Mamiya J, Kinoshita M, Yu YL, Ikeda T (2010) Three-dimensional photomobility of crosslinked azobenzene liquid-crystalline polymer fibers. Adv Mater 22:1361–1363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yu YL, Nakano M, Ikeda T (2003) Directed bending of a polymer film by light. Nature 425:145–145

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng H, Martella D, Wasylczyk P, Cerretti G, Lavocat JC, Ho CH, Parmeggiani C, Wiersma DS (2014) High-resolution 3D direct laser writing for liquid-crystalline elastomer microstructures. Adv Mater 26:2319–2322

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng H, Wasylczyk P, Cerretti G, Martella D, Parmeggiani C, Wiersma DS (2015a) Alignment engineering in liquid crystalline elastomers: free-form microstructures with multiple functionalities. Appl Phys Lett 106:111902

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng H, Wasylczyk P, Parmeggiani C, Martella D, Burresi M, Wiersma DS (2015b) Light-fueled microscopic walkers. Adv Mater 27:3883–3887

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhan YY, Zhao JQ, Liu WD, Yang B, Wei J, Yu YL (2015) Biominnetic submicroarrayed cross-linked liquid crystal polymer films with different wettability via colloidal lithography. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 7:25522–25528

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao JQ, Liu YY, Yu YL (2014) Dual-responsive inverse opal films based on a crosslinked liquid crystal polymer containing azobenzene. J Mater Chem C 2:10262–10267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Lang Qin, Wei Gu & Yanlei Yu

Authors
  1. Lang Qin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wei Gu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yanlei Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yanlei Yu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Lei Zhu

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Christopher Y. Li

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Qin, L., Gu, W., Yu, Y. (2020). Photodeformable Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs). In: Zhu, L., Li, C. (eds) Liquid Crystalline Polymers. Polymers and Polymeric Composites: A Reference Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43350-5_52

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation