<p>Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are blooming in soft robotics and intelligent devices due to their reversible and anisotropic deformation. To imitate sophisticated biological systems, photopatterning plays a crucial role in introducing programmable spatial heterogeneity into LCEs, due to its high resolution and non-contact operational simplicity. However, current photo-regulation methods either modify pre-formed homogeneous networks, offering limited tunability, or inevitably rely on thermal curing and specially designed monomers/reactions, which compromises spatial resolution, flexibility, and generality. Here, we introduce a dual-wavelength photopatterning strategy that enables spatially programmable heterogeneity directly during synthesis, using two wavelength of lights and the most widely accessible thiol-acrylate formulation in LCEs. By selectively triggering radical-mediated (365 nm) or base-catalyzed polymerization (450 nm), we create hard and soft networks with distinct properties. By flexibly regulating the triggering sequence and duration, we achieved seamless integration of continuous gradients within a single LCE: achieving the continuous tuning of modulus (1.3-14.8 MPa), actuation strain (54-93%) and, the broadest tuning range of nematic-isotropic transition temperature (<i>T</i><sub>i</sub>, 55-110 °C). It is indicated that even conventional LCE formulations can achieve multilevel encryption, mechanical differentiation, and bio‑inspired sequential actuation. This strategy establishes a versatile platform for designing functionally heterogeneous LCE devices for next-generation soft materials.</p>

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Dual-wavelength photopatterning unlocks spatially programmable heterogeneity in liquid crystal elastomers

  • Yixuan Wang,
  • Enjian He,
  • Huan Liang,
  • Yuting Wang,
  • Zefeng Chen,
  • Zhijun Yang,
  • Shuhan Zhang,
  • Qiulin Chen,
  • Yen Wei,
  • Yan Ji

摘要

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are blooming in soft robotics and intelligent devices due to their reversible and anisotropic deformation. To imitate sophisticated biological systems, photopatterning plays a crucial role in introducing programmable spatial heterogeneity into LCEs, due to its high resolution and non-contact operational simplicity. However, current photo-regulation methods either modify pre-formed homogeneous networks, offering limited tunability, or inevitably rely on thermal curing and specially designed monomers/reactions, which compromises spatial resolution, flexibility, and generality. Here, we introduce a dual-wavelength photopatterning strategy that enables spatially programmable heterogeneity directly during synthesis, using two wavelength of lights and the most widely accessible thiol-acrylate formulation in LCEs. By selectively triggering radical-mediated (365 nm) or base-catalyzed polymerization (450 nm), we create hard and soft networks with distinct properties. By flexibly regulating the triggering sequence and duration, we achieved seamless integration of continuous gradients within a single LCE: achieving the continuous tuning of modulus (1.3-14.8 MPa), actuation strain (54-93%) and, the broadest tuning range of nematic-isotropic transition temperature (Ti, 55-110 °C). It is indicated that even conventional LCE formulations can achieve multilevel encryption, mechanical differentiation, and bio‑inspired sequential actuation. This strategy establishes a versatile platform for designing functionally heterogeneous LCE devices for next-generation soft materials.