Liquid Crystal Polymer Actuators for Deformable Electronics and Soft Robotics

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The present proposal aims to develop electrically conductive liquid crystalline elastomers (EC-LCEs) that can function both as sensor for mechanical deformations and environmental conditions and as actuator for stimuli-driven soft robotics applications. On one hand, the sensing functionality relies on electrical resistance changes in response to deformations or changing environment (temperature, humidity and UV light intensity), which provides the basis for such applications as e-skins that can sense human motions and external stimuli. On the other hand, the actuation capacity results from reversible macroscopic shape change upon liquid crystal (order) to isotropic (disorder) phase transition of the polymer, which enables robotic functions and locomotion powered by, for example, light. In this research program, we will synthesize a variety of rationally designed EC-LCEs (including LCEs bearing ionic liquid moieties and porous LCEs with ionic liquid or liquid metal filled in interconnected pore channels) and investigate their integrated sensing and actuation properties. Our proposed research program opens up a new direction for both the field of materials for deformable electronics and the field of LCEs for miniature, environment-adaptive and stimuli-driven soft robots. In addition to training highly qualified personnel, we expect important discoveries and breakthroughs on conducting materials that can sustain large deformations and have stimuli-controlled mobility.