Programmable chiral liquid crystal elastomer with broadband tunability

Abstract

Chiral liquid crystal elastomers amalgamate the micro-optical features of self-assembled nanostructures with their supermechanical attributes, providing repeatable stimulus responsivity, which has a wide range of applications in MOEMS. This study presents a programmable chiral liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) with broadband tunability. Stretching induces a blue shift in the wavelength of the reflection center of CLCEs. Upon stress relief, the elastomer can revert to its initial color. Significant structural color changes within the visible range, spanning over 200 nm in wavelength, are achieved. Control over the initial color of CLCEs is achieved by adjusting the chiral dopant concentration, establishing a relationship between the initial reflection center wavelength and the chiral dopant concentration, shifting from red at 1.9 wt.% to blue at 2.9 wt.%.