侧基甲壳效应和甲壳型液晶高分子

侧链液晶高分子体系里,液晶基元可以通过尾接或腰接的方式与主链相连.一般认为,在液晶基元与主链间插入一段长度合适的＂柔性间隔基＂可有效实现主、侧链间的动力学去偶合,从而有利于侧基液晶基元之间的有序排列.作为一类特殊的腰接型侧链液晶高分子,甲壳型液晶高分子中体积较大的侧基（如棒状液晶基元）通过非常短的间隔基或仅通过一个碳-碳键直接横挂至主链上,这导致了强烈的甲壳效应,使得主链被迫伸展.因此,可从与＂柔性间隔基＂完全不同的角度出发,充分利用主链和侧基间的偶合作用,设计甲壳型液晶高分子.本文综述了腰接型侧链液晶高分子中的侧基甲壳效应、甲壳型液晶高分子中由主链与侧基相互作用所导致的特殊构象以及液晶相结构.研究表明,侧基甲壳效应在调控甲壳型液晶高分子的形状、尺寸以及螺旋结构等方面有重要作用.甲壳型液晶高分子可作为刚-柔嵌段共聚物的刚性链段,也可作为主/侧链结合型液晶高分子的主链部分参与到多层次分级超分子有序结构的构筑之中.     

响应性交联液晶高分子仿生致动器的研究进展

交联液晶高分子兼具液晶取向有序性和交联聚合物熵弹性等特点,能够以动态可调节和可逆的方式来模仿生物体的行为,在仿生器件、柔性机器人、智能表面、生物医药等领域具有良好的应用前景.本综述总结了近几年智能响应性交联液晶高分子在仿生致动器方面的研究进展,从响应性交联液晶高分子的结构和驱动机理出发,讨论了响应性交联液晶高分子的合成工艺、制备技术和成型方法,以及响应性交联液晶高分子对光、热、磁、湿度的响应.此外,介绍了响应性交联液晶高分子致动器在柔性机器人、人工肌肉、微流体运输等领域的应用.最后,对响应性交联液晶高分子的发展前景进行了展望.这项工作主要讨论了响应性交联液晶高分子,旨在为具有新颖功能和更有挑战性的智能微型致动器提供新的设计思路.     

室温光致形变主链型交联液晶高分子纤维执行器

将分别含有偶氮苯和苯甲酸苯酯的2种液晶单体与伯胺进行迈克尔加成反应,得到分子量可控的主链型液晶低聚物.利用先熔融提拉、后自由基聚合的方法将低聚物制备成交联液晶高分子纤维.液晶单体与伯胺之间的扩链反应有效地降低了高分子网络的交联密度,进而降低纤维的玻璃化转变温度.同时,这种先拉伸、再聚合的方式将纤维的取向与交联过程分开,保证了纤维中的液晶基元沿拉伸方向呈规整排列.因此,取向后的交联液晶高分子纤维可在室温下实现可逆光致弯曲形变,其最大弯曲角度接近60°,且弯曲方向可以通过改变光照方向进行调控.这种形变幅度大、方向可控的主链型交联液晶高分子纤维有望推动光响应柔性执行器等领域的发展.     

偶氮苯为探针的液晶聚合物聚集形态研究

利用紫外-可见光谱,对比研究了尾挂侧链液晶聚合物和腰挂侧链液晶聚合物在结晶相和液晶相转变过程中的液晶基元取向情况.研究表明,石英基材表面倾向于诱导偶氮液晶基元垂直于基材排列;观察到了在液晶态尾挂侧链液晶聚合物和腰挂侧链液晶聚合物的不同取向行为.在室温下重新结晶数天后,腰挂液晶聚合物的紫外可见光谱缓慢回复.     

侧链聚硅氧烷液晶高分子的合成与表征及应用研究

液晶高分子既具有独特的液晶性 ,又具有高分子的良好材料性能 ,引起了人们的广泛注意[1～ 9] .侧链液晶高分子大多可以作为功能材料 ,对它们的研究有很大的理论与现实意义 .以往报道的此类化合物的介晶基元大多是通过烷氧基与间隔基相连[10 ] .我们以催化活性很高的铂络和物为催化剂 ,通过硅氢加成反应制备了间隔基与介晶基元通过酰氧基相连的两种侧链聚硅氧烷液晶高分子 ,并对它们的性质进行了初步表征 .发现它们具有很好的液晶性 .已有研究表明侧链聚硅氧烷液晶在气相色谱分离结构近似的物质方面 ,具有易涂渍、选择性及热稳定性优于低分子…     

光响应形变液晶聚合物的结构与应用

液晶聚合物能够在外界刺激下发生形状变化,是一类重要的柔性智能材料。其中液晶有序排列的改变诱导材料的宏观形变。光响应聚合物具有可远程操作、易于控制等特点,在刺激响应性聚合物的设计中受到了广泛关注。将具有光响应性的基团引入到液晶聚合物体系中,可以得到一系列具有重要应用前景的光致形变材料。本文综述了近年来光响应形变液晶聚合物的研究进展,总结了光响应液晶聚合物的分子设计与响应原理,包括光致异构化响应型、光致生热响应型和多重刺激响应型;介绍了光响应液晶聚合物柔性执行器在仿生功能、能量转换和柔性机器人等领域的应用;展望了未来的研究方向与应用前景。     

微结构化弹性体介电层的制备方法与应用

微结构化弹性体薄膜是指在表面或内部具有多孔或者特殊造型阵列的微纳米尺寸结构的弹性体薄膜,这类薄膜作为功能化介电层在柔性电子器件的制备领域获得了广泛的应用。本文从微结构弹性体介电层的制备和应用两个方面来介绍微结构弹性体介电层的研究进展,首先介绍了可用以制备介电层的弹性体的种类,然后综述了多孔和非多孔阵列两大类微结构弹性体介电层的制备方法(氯化钠模板法、糖模板法、碳酸氢盐类模板法、微球模板法和硅模板法等);并介绍了微结构弹性体介电层在应力应变传感器和纳米发电机上的应用。     

含1,3,4-噁二唑甲壳型液晶聚合物的合成与表征

甲壳型液晶聚合物（mesogen-jacketed liquid crystal polymer,MJLCP）是1987年由周其凤教授[1]首先提出的概念.从化学结构看,甲壳型液晶聚合物属于侧链型,由烯类单体经链式聚合制得,容易得到高分子量的产物,具有一般柔性侧链型液晶聚合物的一些优点.但是与柔性侧链型液晶聚合物不同的是,MJLCP分子中的刚性液晶基元是通过腰部或重心位置与主链相联结的,在主链与刚性液晶基元的侧基之间只有很短或者没有柔性间隔基.由于在这类液晶聚合物的分子主链周围空间内刚性液晶基元的密度很高,分子主链被由液晶基元形成的外壳所包裹并被迫采取相对伸直的刚性链构象.因此,这类液晶聚合物又和主链型刚性链液晶聚合物相似,具有较明显的链刚性.近年来,周其凤课题组围绕甲壳型液晶聚合物深入开展了分子设计与合成、分子结构与性能等多方面的研究.其中,设计合成具有特定功能的甲壳型液晶聚合物是在以往研究工作和学科交叉融合的基础上发展起来的一项新的研究工作.将一些有特殊功能的基团引入到甲壳型液晶聚合物中会使其具有崭新的特性.     

聚甲基丙烯酸胆甾醇酯共聚物的合成、结构与性能研究 Ⅳ.PMACE的相态转变及光学性质

Finkelmann和等人对侧链胆甾型高分子液晶的研究表明,将具有液晶功能的低分子基团,经过一个软段连接到柔性高分子主链上的梳型高分子在一定的温度下可以形成液晶态,调节侧链高分子液晶的分子结构、软段长度,可以改变其相态转变温度及微区形态。前已报导具有不同侧链结构的聚甲基丙烯酸胆甾醇酯共聚物的合成、相态转变及光学性质,本文通过对聚甲基丙烯酸胆甾醇乙烯酯共聚物(PMACE)的液晶态及结晶态的微细结构及相态转变与胆甾侧链含量关系的研究,给出了液晶态的形成条件及结构特征。     

液晶弹性体刺激形变研究

开发可以通过外部刺激产生机械形变的人工致动材料是一个近年来的研究热点。其中,液晶弹性体因结合了聚合物网络的橡胶弹性和液晶的有序性而具有独特的性质,在热、光、电等的外界刺激下可以产生可逆的形状记忆效应。本文综述了液晶弹性体响应多种外界刺激产生各种形变的行为,主要介绍了有关热致形变液晶弹性体、电致形变液晶弹性体、化学刺激导致形变的液晶弹性体及光致形变液晶弹性体的研究进展,阐述了各类液晶弹性体产生形变的机理包括热致、电致和光致相转变,讨论了影响其响应性能的主要因素,并展望了这一领域的发展前景。     

A Novel Side-Chain Liquid Crystal Elastomer Exhibiting Anomalous Reversible Shape Change

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have been actively investigated as stimuli-controlled actuators and soft robots. The basis of these applications is the ability of LCEs to undergo a reversible shape change upon a liquid crystalline (LC)-isotropic phase transition. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel LCE based on a side-chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP). In contrast to known LCEs, this LCE exhibits a striking anomalous shape change. Subjecting a mechanically stretched monodomain strip to LC-disorder phase transition, both the length and width of the strip contract in isotropic phase, and both elongate in LC phase. This thermally induced behaviour is the result of a subtle interplay between the relaxation of polymer main chain oriented along the stretching direction and the disordering of side-group mesogens oriented perpendicularly to the stretching direction. This finding points out potential design of LCEs of this peculiar type and possible applications to exploit.     

A Novel Side‐Chain Liquid Crystal Elastomer Exhibiting Anomalous Reversible Shape Change

Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) have been actively investigated as stimuli‐controlled actuators and soft robots. The basis of these applications is the ability of LCEs to undergo a reversible shape change upon a liquid crystalline (LC)‐isotropic phase transition. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel LCE based on a side‐chain liquid crystalline polymer (SCLCP). In contrast to known LCEs, this LCE exhibits a striking anomalous shape change. Subjecting a mechanically stretched monodomain strip to LC‐disorder phase transition, both the length and width of the strip contract in isotropic phase, and both elongate in LC phase. This thermally induced behaviour is the result of a subtle interplay between the relaxation of polymer main chain oriented along the stretching direction and the disordering of side‐group mesogens oriented perpendicularly to the stretching direction. This finding points out potential design of LCEs of this peculiar type and possible applications to exploit.     

Photoluminescent nematic liquid crystalline elastomer actuators

Nematic liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) actuators possessing both photoluminescent (PL) and stimuli-responsive functions were fabricated and studied. PL-dyes (1-pyrenemethyl acrylate and 4-bromo-2,6-bis-(1?-methyl-benzimidazolyl) pyridine loaded with Eu(III) ion) were synthesised and characterised, and then the dyes were mixed with an acrylate side-on liquid crystalline monomer, a cross-linker and a photo-initiator. Through magnetic field alignment, well-defined LCE micropillar PL actuators were fabricated from the mixed samples by a method combining soft lithography and photo-polymerisation/photo-cross-linking. Microscopic observations indicated that the LCE micropillars showed reversible thermomechanical deformation at the nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature. During the reversible contraction and extension process, the LCE actuator containing 1-pyrenemethyl moieties showed stable photoluminescence, while for the LCE actuator doped with 4-bromo-2,6-bis-(1-methyl-benzimidazolyl)pyridine/Eu(III) complex, the PL emission was quenched at about 100°C, which was before the pillars contraction occurring at a higher temperature. When cooled down to room temperature, the contracted LCE micropillars recovered their original shape and the initial PL emission state. The micron-sized LCE actuators can be used for thermomechanical devices and machines with different PL functions at the same time.     

Liquid‐Crystalline Soft Actuators with Switchable Thermal Reprogrammability

Thermal reprogrammability is essential for new‐generation large dry soft actuators, but the realization sacrifices the favored actuation performance. The contradiction between thermal reprogrammability and stability hampers efforts to design high‐performance soft actuators to be robust and thermally adaptable. Now, a strategy has been developed that relies on repeatedly switching on/off thermal reprogrammability in liquid‐crystalline elastomer (LCE) actuators to resolve this problem. By post‐synthesis swelling, a latent siloxane exchange reaction can be induced in the common siloxane LCEs (switching on), enabling reprogramming into on‐demand 3D‐shaped actuators; by switching off the dynamic network by heating, actuation stability is guaranteed even at high temperature (180 °C). Using partially black‐ink‐patterned LCEs, selectively switching off reprogrammability allows integration of completely different actuation modes in one monolithic actuator for more delicate and elaborate tasks.     

Photo-responsive liquid crystalline elastomer with reduced chemically modified graphene oxide

Photo-responsive liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) with reduced chemically modified graphene oxide (RMGO) was fabricated and studied. Mesogenic groups modified graphene oxide (MGO) was prepared, reduced and characterised, then the obtained RMGO was mixed with an acrylate monomer containing a side-on mesogen, a crosslinker and a photoinitiator. After being oriented with magnetic field, well-defined LCE micropillar as photo-responsive actuators were fabricated from the mixture by the method combining soft lithography and photo-polymerisation/photo-crosslinking. The LCE micropillars showed reversible thermo-mechanical deformation during the nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature. Upon irradiating with red light (650 nm), photo-mechanical responses of the RMGO-containing LCE was demonstrated. This micron-sized LCE actuators can be used for remote photo-responsive devices.     

Mechanotropic Elastomers

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are anisotropic polymeric materials. When subjected to an applied stress, liquid crystalline (LC) mesogens within the elastomeric polymer network (re)orient to the loading direction. The (re)orientation during deformation results in nonlinear stress‐strain dependence (referred to as soft elasticity). Here, we uniquely explore mechanotropic phase transitions in elastomers with appreciable mesogenic content and compare these responses to LCEs in the polydomain orientation. The isotropic (amorphous) elastomers undergo significant directional orientation upon loading, evident in strong birefringence and x‐ray diffraction. Functionally, the mechanotropic displacement of the elastomers to load is also nonlinear. However, unlike the analogous polydomain LCE compositions examined here, the isotropic elastomers rapidly recover after deformation. The mechanotropic orientation of the mesogens in these materials increase the toughness of these thiol‐ene photopolymers by nearly 1300 % relative to a chemically similar elastomer prepared from wholly isotropic precursors.     

Mechanotropic Elastomers

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are anisotropic polymeric materials. When subjected to an applied stress, liquid crystalline (LC) mesogens within the elastomeric polymer network (re)orient to the loading direction. The (re)orientation during deformation results in nonlinear stress‐strain dependence (referred to as soft elasticity). Here, we uniquely explore mechanotropic phase transitions in elastomers with appreciable mesogenic content and compare these responses to LCEs in the polydomain orientation. The isotropic (amorphous) elastomers undergo significant directional orientation upon loading, evident in strong birefringence and x‐ray diffraction. Functionally, the mechanotropic displacement of the elastomers to load is also nonlinear. However, unlike the analogous polydomain LCE compositions examined here, the isotropic elastomers rapidly recover after deformation. The mechanotropic orientation of the mesogens in these materials increase the toughness of these thiol‐ene photopolymers by nearly 1300 % relative to a chemically similar elastomer prepared from wholly isotropic precursors.     

可多次使用的液晶型类玻璃高分子

通过高温下酯交换反应的进行,含酯键的液晶型类玻璃高分子(liquid crystalline vitrimer),能够通过简单拉伸进行取向,获得随温度变化可逆伸缩的智能材料.在目前已报道的此类主链型高分子中,酯交换剧烈发生需要的临界温度(Tv),与液晶弹性体发生可逆形变的温度(Ti,即液晶相-各向同性相转变温度)相隔较近,导致材料的使用温度范围比较窄,而且多次升降温后,取向及可逆形变会消失.为解决此问题,本文在原来体系的基础上,通过共聚合另外一种液晶基元,有效地降低了Ti,从而拓宽Ti与Tv之间的距离.这不仅使材料的使用次数明显增加,还能延长此类液晶弹性体的使用期限.     

Liquid-Crystalline Soft Actuators with Switchable Thermal Reprogrammability

Thermal reprogrammability is essential for new-generation large dry soft actuators, but the realization sacrifices the favored actuation performance. The contradiction between thermal reprogrammability and stability hampers efforts to design high-performance soft actuators to be robust and thermally adaptable. Now, a strategy has been developed that relies on repeatedly switching on/off thermal reprogrammability in liquid-crystalline elastomer (LCE) actuators to resolve this problem. By post-synthesis swelling, a latent siloxane exchange reaction can be induced in the common siloxane LCEs (switching on), enabling reprogramming into on-demand 3D-shaped actuators; by switching off the dynamic network by heating, actuation stability is guaranteed even at high temperature (180 °C). Using partially black-ink-patterned LCEs, selectively switching off reprogrammability allows integration of completely different actuation modes in one monolithic actuator for more delicate and elaborate tasks.     

Molecular Dynamic Simulation of Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Under Load

Summary: We present a molecular dynamic simulation of a side chain liquid crystalline elastomer (LCE) under load. The LCE is composed of a flexible tetrafunctional diamond like network with rod-like mesogens attached to the network. As a precursor of the LC elastomer a flexible polymer network in a low molecular liquid-crystal (LC) solvent was used. The phase behavior of the LCE under uniaxial stretching up to the deformations of λ = 1.5 and 2.0 at different densities was studied. As in the non-stretched case upon density increase an isotropic to nematic phase transition occurs. However, in contrast to thermotropic side chain LC elastomers the stress induced shift transition is not observed. The stretching slightly increases the anisotropy of translational diffusion of mesogens in the nematic state. The stress-strain dependence for LCE both in the isotropic and the nematic states is obtained. Elastic modulus increases at high values of order parameter.