Architected Liquid Crystal Elastomer Lattices with Programmable Energy Absorption

Telles, Rodrigo; Mancini, Julie A.; Barrera, Jorge‐Luis; Simoes, Marlini; Porcincula, Dominique H.; Bischoff, Adam; Roach, Devin J.; Leguizamon, Samuel C.; Lee, Elaine; Cook, Caitlyn C.; Lewis, Jennifer A.

doi:10.1002/adma.202420048

Architected Liquid Crystal Elastomer Lattices with Programmable Energy Absorption

Journal Article · Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Advanced Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202420048· OSTI ID:2573803

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Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States)
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Architected LCE lattices are fabricated with flow-induced alignment via direct ink writing and systematically characterized their shape morphing, stiffness, and energy absorption behavior across strain rates spanning six orders of magnitude from 10⁻³ to 10³ s⁻¹. It is shown that architected liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) lattices exhibit superior energy absorption compared to their non-mesogenic (silicone) counterparts. Importantly, the LCE-to-silicone energy absorption ratios are up to 18-fold higher at the highest strain rate tested. A finite element model that captures their shape-morphing response is developed, which exhibits excellent agreement with the experimental observations. In conclusion, the work opens new avenues for designing and fabricating LCE lattices with programmable alignment, shape morphing, and mechanics.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; US Army Research Office (ARO); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344; NA0003525

OSTI ID:: 2573803

Report Number(s):: LLNL--JRNL-870149

Journal Information:: Advanced Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Materials; ISSN 1521-4095; ISSN 0935-9648

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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