Research progress of liquid crystal elastomer with designable and reconfigurable shape morphing

Due to the designable shape morphing and up to 400% strain, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) has important potential applications in many fields, such as artificial muscles, soft robotics, miniaturized robotics and so on. The designable deformation of LCE stems from their designable complicated molecular orientation pattern. Here, we presented the technologies applied in designing molecular orientation pattern of LCE, including mechanical stretching alignment, field alignment, surface alignment and 3D printing. We analyzed the orientation principle and application scenarios of each technology and summarized their advantages and shortcoming. In addition, we introduced the research progress of LCE with reconfigurable deformation. The LCE with reconfigurable deformation could display various shape morphing under outer stimulus and possess certain environmental adaptability, thus has a wider application prospect. This paper gave a briefly explanation on the several strategies applied in realizing LCE with reconfigurable deformation. In the end, we envisaged the future development of LCE with designable and reconfigurable shape morphing.