title: Guided Folding of Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Sheets into 3D via Patterned 1D Microchannels.
abstract: Two-dimensional liquid-crystal elastomer (LCE) sheets with preprogrammed topological defects are prepared by aligning liquid-crystal monomers within micropatterned epoxy channels, followed by photopolymerization. Upon heating, the LCE films form various three-dimensional structures in agreement with theoretical design. The miniaturized LCE actuators offer large-area work capacities (≈1.05 J m-2) to lift over 700 times their own weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cedillo-Servin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, 209 South 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Randall D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kamien
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
keywords: guided folding; micro-channels; nematic liquid crystal elastomers; patterning topological defects; templating