Liquid crystals shape up on demand

By Thomas Foley2019-01-04T11:24:00

A picture of a face made of a unique polymer

Source: © Jeff Fitlow/Rice University

UV-cured liquid crystal polymers remember complex 3D structures and reversibly deform in response to temperature

A new method for programming intricate shape changes in liquid crystal elastomers could enable new advances in soft robotics, biomedical devices and 3D printing.