• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.169-274
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• 2024

Recent attention has been drawn to materials that undergo reversible expansion and contraction in response to external stimuli, leading to morphological changes. These materials hold potential applications in various fields including soft robotics, sensors, and artificial muscles. In this study, a novel material capable of responding to high temperatures for protection or encapsulation is proposed. To achieve this, liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) with nematic-isotropic transition properties and polyimide (PI) with high mechanical strength and thermal stability were utilized. To utilize a solution process, a dope solution was synthesized and introduced into micro-printing techniques to develop a two-dimensional pattern of LCE/PI bilayer structures with sub-millimeter widths. The honeycomb-patterned LCE/PI bilayer mesh combined the mechanical strength of PI with the high-temperature contraction behavior of LCE, and selective printing of LCE facilitated deformation in desired directions at high temperatures. Consequently, the functionality of selectively and reversibly encapsulating specific high-temperature materials was achieved. This study suggests potential applications in various actuator fields where functionalities can be implemented across different temperature ranges without the need for electrical energy input, contingent upon molecular changes in LCE.