Fig. 4.
Microwave actuation performance of LCE-M hybrid polymer. a, b Actuation strain of the four samples under microwave irradiation versus time. Inset in b is the photographs depicting the microwave-induced deformation of LCE-M3. c Comparation of t1, t2 and t4 of the four samples in the microwave actuation process. d ωr of LCE-M actuators versus frequency. e DSC analysis for LCE-M samples. Insets in e are the infrared thermal images corresponding to the insets in b. f Assessment of the heating rates and apparent EM energy harvest efficiencies under microwave radiation. g Microwave driving mechanism with an equivalent circuit of the LCE-M actuator under microwave irradiation. h Photographs depicting the remote control capabilities of a microwave-driven muscle-like LCE-M actuator and the corresponding infrared thermal images