Reversible solvent-sensitive actuator with continuous bending/debending process from liquid crystal elastomer-colloidal material

A reversible solvent-sensitive actuator with a continuous bending/debending process is fabricated by over-infiltration of liquid crystal monomers into a colloidal template and subsequent photopolymerization. The fabricated actuator exhibits a maximum bending angle of 1080° in 1.58 s in dichloromethane, accompanied with successive debending in 0.32 s. The behavior of the actuator can be modulated by changing the solvent type, film thickness/length and molar ratio of A6OCB/C6M. This study will provide an important experimental and theoretical basis for the development of novel actuators.