Liquid crystalline elastomer

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Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are slightly crosslinked liquid crystalline polymer networks. These materials combine the entropy elasticity of an elastomer with the self-organization of the liquid crystalline phase. In liquid crystalline elastomers, the mesogens can either be part of the polymer chain (main-chain liquid crystalline elastomers) or are attached via an alkyl spacer (side-chain liquid crystalline elastomers).^[1]

Due to their actuation properties, liquid crystalline elastomers are attractive candidates for the use as artificial muscles or microrobots.