The fabrication of liquid crystal networks microstructures using two-photon polymerization

Liquid crystal networks (LCNs) have been extensively researched due to their unique ability to change shape in response to external stimuli, such as light or heat, through anisotropic expansion resulting from the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules. Traditionally, microstructures are polymerized from the surface of the substrate, limiting their ability to achieve shrinking deformation at the microscale. This paper proposes using two-photon polymerization to fabricate shrinking micro-pillars supported by an LCN wall, avoiding restrictions from the substrate surface. In this study, the fabricated LCN pillars with lengths of 30 microns and thicknesses of 5.5, 8.5, and 11.5 microns achieved a maximum shrinking ratio of 17.33%.