writer：Huang, S.; Shen, Y.; Bisoyi, H. K.; Tao, Y.; Liu, Z.; Wang, M.; Yang, H.*; Li, Q.*
keywords：Liquid Crystal Network
source：期刊
specific source：Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 12543-12551.
Issue time：2021年

The development of covalent adaptable liquid crystal

networks (LCNs) enabled by introducing dynamic covalent bonds has

endowed liquid crystal actuators with self-healing properties and

reversible shape programmability, broadening their applications in

diverse soft robotic devices. However, the finite molecular design

strategy limits the recyclability and the architectural diversity of these

materials. Here, a strategy is first reported for fabricating photoresponsive polydisulfide-based covalent adaptable LCNs by ringopening polymerization of cyclic dithiolane groups. Based on the

disulfide metathesis, the resulting materials are self-healable,

reshapable, and reprogrammable. Importantly, the equilibrium

between the polymer backbones and the dithiolane-functionalized

monomers enables catalytic depolymerization to recycle monomers,

which could significantly weaken the disadvantage of subtractive manufacturing of photomechanical devices. This work rooted in

chemistry would provide an economical and environmentally friendly strategy for the fabrication of functional soft robotics with

excellent programmability and renewability and beyond.