Smart Actuators: Liquid Crystal Elastomer‐Based Magnetic Composite Films for Reconfigurable Shape‐Morphing Soft Miniature Machines (Adv. Mater. 8/2021)

Abstract

Multi‐stimuli‐responsive soft materials enable promising untethered smart actuators and sensors. In article number 2006191, Metin Sitti and co‐workers develop a hybrid liquid‐crystal elastomer with embedded ferromagnetic microparticles that responds to magnetic, thermal, and optical cues. Such a monolithic material enables reconfigurable environmentally sensitive miniature machines with physical intelligence. The patterned mesogens deform the material into 3D shapes, such as helices, upon actuation. The dual red and blue colors represent the material's magnetic responsiveness.