Desynchronized liquid crystalline network actuators with deformation reversal capability

Abstract Liquid crystalline network (LCN) actuator normally deforms upon thermally or optically induced order-disorder phase transition, switching once between two shapes (shape 1 in LC and shape 2 isotropic state) for each stimulation on/off cycle. Herein, we report an LCN that from to then reverses the deformation direction form 3 on heating under light only, thus completing switch twice one The reversal capability is obtained with a monolithic whose sides are made start deforming at different temperatures exerting reversible strains, by means of asymmetrical crosslinking and/or stretching. This desynchronized actuation strategy offers possibilities developing light-fueled soft robots. In particular, multi-stage bidirectional change enables multimodal, light-driven locomotion same simply varying times.