Well-Defined Liquid Crystal Gels

Significance

The cross-linking of liquid crystal (LC) polymers forms gels and elastomers that respond to heat, light, and electromagnetic fields with optical and shape changes. LC elastomers and gels are typically prepared using random cross-linking of polysiloxane or uncontrolled radical reactions, resulting in poorly defined networks. To study the effects of molecular parameters such as polymer chain length, cross-linker functionality, and mesogen density on macroscopic properties, a new approach to the synthesis of LC gels was developed. Telechelic LC polymers were prepared by ring-opening-metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and cross-linked using the azide-alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition.