Liquid Crystal Electromechanical Elastomer: A Strong Future for Smectic A* Molecules

Electromechanical materials are very useful as actuators when small weight, and low to moderate force are needed to manipulate small objects. The Liquid Crystal Material Research center located in Boulder, Colorado in interested in developing a novel liquid crystal based electromechanical elastomer. De Vries liquid crystals organize into layers where the director is perpendicular to the layer normal, and the optical tilt varies greatly from the x-ray tilt. In this paper we hope to exploit the properties of a rare Anti-De Vries Smectic A* molecule in which the optical to x-ray tilt is approximately one over a broad temperature range. Discussed in this paper is background on the theory of the liquid phase under investigation, and the outline of synthesis of the Smectic A* W317 analog which is used in the electromechanical elastomer material. Subject headings: REU Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center Liquid Crystal Elastomer For Artifical Muscle Applications Professor David Walba David Walba, Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jacquie Richardson, PhD Canadiate University of Colorado Deptartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Colorado Professor Noel Clark Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center REU National Science Foundation [email protected] for questions or concerns