This side chain LCE is prepared through by photo-crosslinking acrylate
monomers in a glass cell coated with an alignment layer. These LCE are
prepared with a free, non-reactive LC mesogens, which are washed away after
the film is released from the cell. Prof. Urayama has extensively studied
director dynamic of LCE films using these materials. The image to the left
shows optical and mechanical changes in the LCE when an electrical field is
applied to LCE film. (ref. Macromolecules (40) 2007 p. 2277 review)
This material is prepared in a glass cell coated with a rubbed polyimide alignment layer. The crosslinked LCE polymer network is formed by photo-polymerization.The material is prepared as a mixture of unreactive and polymerizable mesogen, shown in the image to the right. The reactive acrylate mesogen polymerizes to form the LCE network, with the unreacted mesogen washed from the film after release from the cell. Material preparation involves the following steps.
After the mesogen is synthesized, the LCE can be prepared in approximately 24 hours.