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. 2024 Mar 6;10(10):eadk3854. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adk3854

Fig. 3. The 3D MEW-printed LCE elementary structural units with graded size and actuation strain.

Fig. 3.

(A) SEM image of the cross section of the three-layered LCE wall structure. Scale bar, 50 μm (inset SEM image) and 1 mm. (B) SEM images of three LCE wall structures with different layer numbers (12, 14, and 16 layers). Scale bar, 300 μm. (C) SEM images of the cross section of the 3-mm-high LCE wall structure. Scale bars, 600 μm (left) and 50 μm (right). (D) SEM image of the cross section of the LCE wall structure with varying width (70 to 20 μm). Scale bar, 100 μm. (E) Photograph sequences of the LCE strip unit captured at room temperature and 120°C. Scale bar, 2 mm. (F) Height of printed LCE wall structures as a function of the printing speed and printing temperature. (G) The actuation strain of the LCE wall structures is a function of the printing speed and printing temperature. (H) Ashby plot of work density versus the actuation strain of the MEW-printed LCE actuator, human muscle (57), and other actuators (13, 24, 37–43). (I) Several LCE elementary structural units with graded size and actuation strain, including the LCE strip with varying actuation strain (first row), the LCE cylindrical structure (second row), the LCE spring-shaped structure (third row), the sinusoidal LCE structure (fourth row), and the size-graded sinusoidal LCE curved strip (last row). The leftmost column displays SEM images of structural units, detailing their physical characteristics. The middle column shows photographic sequences of LCE units captured at room temperature and 120°C, demonstrating their thermal response. The rightmost column presents FEA results, predicting the shape-morphing behavior of functionally graded LCE units. Scale bars, 500 μm (SEM images) and 200 μm (photograph sequences).