Photomechanical Response of Composite Structures Built from Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks

doi:10.3390/polym3031447

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Polymers 2011, 3(3), 1447-1457; doi:10.3390/polym3031447

Article

Photomechanical Response of Composite Structures Built from Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks

Kyung Min Lee^1,2 and Timothy J. White^1,*

¹ Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, OH 45433, USA ² Azimuth Corporation, Dayton, OH 45433, USA

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 1 August 2011; in revised form: 19 August 2011 / Accepted: 30 August 2011 / Published: 2 September 2011

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Liquid Crystalline Polymers)

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Abstract: Optically directed shape adaptive responses have been sought after for many decades in photoresponsive polymeric materials. A number of recent examinations have elucidated elucidated the unique opportunities of photomechanical responses realized in azobenzene-functionalized liquid crystalline polymer networks (both elastomers and glasses). This work summarizes and contrasts the photomechanical response of glassy polydomain, monodomain, and twisted nematic azo-LCN materials to blue-green irradiation. Building from this summary, the combinatorial photomechanical response observed upon irradiation of composite cantilevers is examined. Large scale shape adaptations are realized, with novel responses that may be of potential use in future employment of these materials in actuation.

Keywords: azobenzene; liquid crystal; photomechanical

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Lee, K.M.; White, T.J. Photomechanical Response of Composite Structures Built from Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks. Polymers 2011, 3, 1447-1457.

AMA Style

Lee KM, White TJ. Photomechanical Response of Composite Structures Built from Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks. Polymers. 2011; 3(3):1447-1457.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lee, Kyung Min; White, Timothy J. 2011. "Photomechanical Response of Composite Structures Built from Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks." Polymers 3, no. 3: 1447-1457.

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