Design and applications of light responsive liquid crystal polymer thin films

Abstract

Responding to external stimuli is a trait observed in all living organisms. Modern artificial materials have adopted this profound characteristic, thereby commencing the field of stimuli-responsive systems. Liquid crystal polymers are attractive members of this family of systems owing to the available control on their anisotropic properties capable of generating complex morphologies under external stimuli. Liquid crystal polymer systems have been designed to respond to various stimuli such as heat, light, pH, humidity, and electric and magnetic fields. The attainable shapes and topographies open exciting possibilities for novel applications in a wide range of different fields such as microfluidics, artificial muscles, haptics, and optical functions. The microstructural design of liquid crystal polymers leading to diverse applications is the focus of this review. We conclude by presenting the future prospects and developments in these promising material systems.