CAREER: Materials Driven by Light: Nonlinear Photomechanics of Liquid Crystal Elastomers

该学院早期职业发展(Career)计划奖项的目标是量化液晶聚合物网络的材料行为，这些网络会因光而改变其形状。这一研究将对复杂的光力学行为提供新的认识，并为未来具有前所未有的特性的自适应结构的设计提供便利。最近的实验已经证明了高性能、光诱导的形状变化；然而，对聚合物网络与液晶之间的相互作用知之甚少。能够将聚合物网络相互作用与复杂的液晶微结构和光吸收相关联的材料模型是理解这些材料的关键。光弹性体力学的预测将被表述、模拟并与实验进行比较。实验将包括利用固体核磁共振技术量化光诱导的分子演化，以及致动器尺寸对光机械效率的影响。液晶聚合物网络力学方面的新知识的创造有望对开发直接由光驱动的致动器具有广泛的影响，包括机器人操作器、微流体、能量收集和自适应光学。此外，教育目标将包括通过创建远程基于网络的活性材料实验室和课程将研究融入课程、教师活性材料研究体验(RET)计划以及玛丽·布罗根艺术与科学博物馆的K-12计划。博物馆项目将包括一个智能结构风洞模型的动手展览。佛罗里达州立大学和佛罗里达农工大学(一所历史上的黑人学院和大学)之间的联合工程项目也将大量招收代表不足的少数族裔。

The objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program award is to quantify the material behavior of liquid crystal polymer networks that change their shape in response to light. This research will provide a new understanding of complex photomechanical behavior and facilitate the future design of adaptive structures with unprecedented characteristics. Recent experiments have demonstrated high performance, light induced shape changes; however, the interactions between the polymer network and liquid crystals are poorly understood. Material models that can correlate polymer network interactions with complex liquid crystal microstructure and light absorption are critical to understand these materials. Predictions of the photoelastomer mechanics will be formulated, simulated, and compared with experiments. Experiments will include quantifying photo-induced molecular evolution using solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and actuator size effects on photomechanical efficiency.The creation of new knowledge on the mechanics of liquid crystal polymer networks is expected to have broad implications on developing actuators driven directly by light, including robotic manipulators, microfluidics, energy harvesting, and adaptive optics. In addition, the educational objectives will include research integration into the curriculum by creating a remote Web-based active materials laboratory and course, an active materials Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program, and a K-12 program at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. The museum program will include a hands-on exhibit of a smart structure wind tunnel model. Under-represented minorities will also be heavily recruited through the joint engineering program between Florida State University and Florida A&M University (a Historical Black College and University).