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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Advanced Optical Mat...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
Advanced Optical Materials
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: Wiley Online Library User Agreement
Data sources: Crossref
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Scalable Coaxial Extrusion of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Optical Fiber Enabling Intrinsic Photomechanical Waveguiding‐Actuation Synergy

Authors: Nuo Li; Haojun Liu; Jiajia Luo; Tanxi Wang; Zhongqiang Yang; Zhongmin Yang; Jiulin Gan;

Scalable Coaxial Extrusion of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Optical Fiber Enabling Intrinsic Photomechanical Waveguiding‐Actuation Synergy

Abstract

AbstractLiquid crystal elastomer (LCE) fibers demonstrate exceptional photo‐responsiveness and programmable deformation, yet conventional actuation strategy relying on lateral free‐space light irradiation suffer from inherent limitations, including dynamic self‐occlusion during actuation and operational failure in confined spaces. Herein, a coaxial extrusion strategy is presented for mass‐producing anisotropic LCE optical fibers with integrated photonic waveguiding and self‐regulated actuation capabilities. A custom microfluidic nozzle synchronously extrudes carbon nanotube‐doped LCE core and pristine cladding precursors, achieving uniaxial mesogen alignment through optimized shear‐gravity force coupling. The resulting core‐cladding fibers demonstrate ultralow optical losses (0.63–1.82 dB cm−1) enabling long‐range light transmission and remote actuation via commercial fiber coupling. Under 808 nm laser stimulation (100–800 mW), these waveguide‐actuators achieve rapid axial contraction (30% strain/20 s) with >200‐cycle stability, while laser power modulation enables adjustment of contraction strain and bending angle without spatial beam steering. Demonstrated applications include adaptive grippers and self‐steering crawlers, establishing a paradigm for robust photomechanical systems in confined spaces. This work bridges scalable manufacturing with functional integration in soft actuators, offering transformative potential for biomedical robotics and adaptive optomechanical interfaces.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
2
Top 10%
Average
Average
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