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Heliotracking Device using Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Actuators

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Guo, H 
Saed, MO 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pMany living organisms in nature respond to light stimulus and track the light source. Inspired by this, and to maximize the light‐harvesting ability of solar cells, here, a spontaneous helio‐tracking device based on the differential light‐induced actuation of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is demonstrated. The synthesis of the actuator material involves a robust thiol “click” polymerization, while the addition of indocyanine green (ICG) dye imparts the sensitivity to broad‐spectrum and near‐infrared light. Highly reproducible thermal and photo‐induced linear actuation is demonstrated. The device is based on a freely pivoting payload platform held in place by several linear LCE actuators around the 360° circumference. The side of the device, which is exposed to light, has the actuators contracting and tilting the platform toward the light source. As the light source (e.g., the Sun) is moving around the device, the platform tilt followed, always exposing the payload face to the light; in the dark, the device recovers its neutral position.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

heliotracking, liquid crystalline elastomers, photo-actuation

Journal Title

Advanced Materials Technologies

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2365-709X
2365-709X

Volume Title

6

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
European Research Council (786659)