A self-sustained soft actuator able to rock and roll.

Chem Commun (Camb)

Laboratory of Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials & Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Published: September 2019

A triangular shaped liquid crystal network is shown to undergo a continual, rocking chair-like oscillatory chaotic motion upon exposure to a surface of constant temperature. With the addition of an azobenzene chromophore, dual response is achieved, extending the actuation freedom towards a film that shows rocking and rolling motion.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9cc05329hDOI Listing

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