Liquid Crystal Elastomer Artificial Tendrils with Asymmetric Core-Sheath Structure Showing Evolutionary Biomimetic Locomotion.

Chun Zhang, Guoxia Fei, Xili Lu, Hesheng Xia, Yue Zhao

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) 2024 Feb

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The sophisticated and complex haptonastic movements in response to environmental-stimuli of living organisms have always fascinated scientists. However, how to fundamentally mimic the sophisticated hierarchical architectures of living organisms to provide the artificial counterparts with similar or even beyond-natural functions based on the underlying mechanism remains a major scientific challenge. Here, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) artificial tendrils showing evolutionary biomimetic locomotion are developed following the structure-function principle that is used in nature to grow climbing plants. These elaborately designed tendril-like LCE actuators possess an asymmetric core-sheath architecture which shows a higher-to-lower transition in the degree of LC orientation from the sheath-to-core layer across the semi-ellipse cross-section. Upon heating and cooling, the LCE artificial tendril can undergo reversible tendril-like shape-morphing behaviors, such as helical coiling/winding, and perversion. The fundamental mechanism of the helical shape-morphing of the artificial tendril is revealed by using theoretical models and finite element simulations. Besides, the incorporation of metal-ligand coordination into the LCE network provides the artificial tendril with reconfigurable shape-morphing performances such as helical transitions and rotational deformations. Finally, the abilities of helical and rotational deformations are integrated into a new reprogrammed flagellum-like architecture to perform evolutionary locomotion mimicking the haptonastic movements of the natural flagellum. © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Citation

Chun Zhang, Guoxia Fei, Xili Lu, Hesheng Xia, Yue Zhao. Liquid Crystal Elastomer Artificial Tendrils with Asymmetric Core-Sheath Structure Showing Evolutionary Biomimetic Locomotion. Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.). 2024 Feb;36(7):e2307210