Bio-inspired liquid crystal actuator materials

Liquid crystal elastomers, serving as a new kind of intelligent material, have demonstrated important application in the fields of microactuators, artificial muscles, microfluid transportation and intelligent sensors by virtue of their characteristics of spontaneous reversible deformation under external field stimulation. In this paper, we have reviewed the recent research progress of liquid crystal actuator materials, including of phototropic, thermotropic, photothermal and solvent/humidity-based liquid crystal actuators. The processing techniques, deformation response and actuation mechanism of liquid crystal elastomers were discussed and the relative application prospects were put forward. This work will provide important insights for the construction and development of novel liquid crystal optical devices.