Affiliation: | 1. Gisela and Erwin Sick Chair of Micro-Optics, Department for Microsystems Engineering – IMTEK, University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 102, 79110 Freiburg i. Br., Germany;2. Institut für Organische Chemie, University of Mainz, Duesbergweg 10-14, 55099 Mainz, Germany;1. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS-362, Houston, TX, United States;2. Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, MS-325, Houston, TX, United States;3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Houston, N207 Engineering Bldg. 1, 4726 Calhoun Rd, Houston, TX 77204, United States;4. Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Houston, 1010 SERC Bldg. 545, 3517 Cullen Blvd, Houston, TX 77204, United States;1. Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;2. Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;1. Yangzhou Technology Innovation Research Center for Carbon Neutrality of Yangzhou University, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, PR China;2. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Photovoltaic Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Province Cultivation base for State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, PR China |
Abstract: | Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have demonstrated tremendous potential in applications such as soft robotics, biomedical materials, electronics, sensors, and biomimetic systems. The physical properties of LCEs are controlled by the degree of crosslinking, nature of the mesogens, and mesogen orientation in the LCE network structure. A wide range of dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) capable of dynamic bond exchange reactions (DBERs) have been introduced into LCE structures to obtain intelligent materials in recent decades. In this review article, we discuss the molecular constitution, macrostructure, morphing mechanism, recent advances in LCEs with dynamic covalent bonds, the influence of DCBs on self-healing, reprogramming and reprocessing properties of LCE actuators, and challenges and opportunities in incorporating dynamic chemistry in the field of LCE actuators. |