Liquid-crystalline elastomer-nanoparticle hybrids with reversible switch of magnetic memory.
A stimuli-responsive material is synthesized that combines the actuation potential of liquid-crystalline elastomers with the anisotropic magnetic properties of ellipsoidal iron oxide nanoparticles. The resulting nanocomposite exhibits unique shape-memory features with magnetic information, which can be reversibly stored and erased via parameters typical of soft materials, such as high deformations, low stresses, and liquid-crystalline smectic-isotropic transition temperatures.
ETH Zürich, Department of Health Science and Technology, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
Johannes M
JM
Haberl
Antoni
A
Sánchez-Ferrer
Adriana M
AM
Mihut
Hervé
H
Dietsch
Ann M
AM
Hirt
Raffaele
R
Mezzenga