Thermal Actuation of Predesigned Asymmetric Liquid Crystal Elastomer Films

Although numerous studies have explored asymmetric structures in the design of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), investigations comparing the differences between asymmetric and symmetric structures using the same LCE composition are still limited. In this study, we investigate the distinctive thermally driven behavior of LCEAs with asymmetric structures and compare their performance with symmetric counterparts. The photopolymerized liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) film exhibits asymmetric bulging toward the light source, enabling directional control of thermal actuation. Only asymmetric LCE films produce significant displacement; under seven cycles of NIR irradiation, the film moves up to 1.9 cm. Moreover, asymmetric origami-inspired designs further enhance thermally induced motion, providing new concepts for soft robotics and industrial automation.