Phase Separation of Homopolymer-Blended Liquid Crystal Elastomer for Creation of Porous Structures

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) enable both anisotropic responses to external stimuli and efficient transduction of thermal and light energy into reversible mechanical deformation due to their ordered structure and rubber-like elasticity. In this study, we investigate the incorporation of homopolymers into LCEs to create LCE blends and porous LCEs, aiming to enhance their mechanical properties and actuation performance, respectively. Through an examination of phase separation behavior between the homopolymer and LCE in terms of molecular weight and blended ratio, we analyze the dimension and distribution of homopolymer domains within LCE matrices. Blended poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with LCEs significantly enhances the mechanical properties and stability due to the synergistic interaction between PMMA’s rigidity and LCE’s elasticity and responsiveness. Upon removal of PMMA, the resulting porous LCEs exhibit reduced density, improved processability, and increased surface area for interaction with external stimuli. We conduct comparative studies between porous and nonporous LCEs to evaluate their actuation performance. Our findings shed light on the fundamental phase separation behaviors governing the formation of porous LCEs and pave the way for their utilization in advanced applications.