Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites

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dc.citation.articleNumbere53688
dc.citation.journalTitleJournal of Visualized Experiments
dc.citation.volumeNumber108
dc.contributor.authorKim, Hojin
dc.contributor.authorZhu, Bohan
dc.contributor.authorChen, Huiying
dc.contributor.authorAdetiba, Oluwatomiyin
dc.contributor.authorAgrawal, Aditya
dc.contributor.authorAjayan, Pulickel
dc.contributor.authorJacot, Jeffrey G.
dc.contributor.authorVerduzco, Rafael
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-24T16:33:35Z
dc.date.available2017-05-24T16:33:35Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.description.abstractLCEs are shape-responsive materials with fully reversible shape change and potential applications in medicine, tissue engineering, artificial muscles, and as soft robots. Here, we demonstrate the preparation of shape-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and LCE nanocomposites along with characterization of their shape-responsiveness, mechanical properties, and microstructure. Two types of LCEs — polysiloxane-based and epoxy-based — are synthesized, aligned, and characterized. Polysiloxane-based LCEs are prepared through two crosslinking steps, the second under an applied load, resulting in monodomain LCEs. Polysiloxane LCE nanocomposites are prepared through the addition of conductive carbon black nanoparticles, both throughout the bulk of the LCE and to the LCE surface. Epoxy-based LCEs are prepared through a reversible esterification reaction. Epoxy-based LCEs are aligned through the application of a uniaxial load at elevated (160 °C) temperatures. Aligned LCEs and LCE nanocomposites are characterized with respect to reversible strain, mechanical stiffness, and liquid crystal ordering using a combination of imaging, two-dimensional X-ray diffraction measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. LCEs and LCE nanocomposites can be stimulated with heat and/or electrical potential to controllably generate strains in cell culture media, and we demonstrate the application of LCEs as shape-responsive substrates for cell culture using a custom-made apparatus.
dc.identifier.citationKim, Hojin, Zhu, Bohan, Chen, Huiying, et al.. "Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites." <i>Journal of Visualized Experiments,</i> 108, (2016) JoVE: https://doi.org/10.3791/53688.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.3791/53688
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/94369
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherJoVE
dc.rightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
dc.titlePreparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
dc.typeJournal article
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.publicationpublisher version
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