A Continuous Flow Synthesis of Micrometer‐Sized Actuators from Liquid Crystalline Elastomers

Abstract

We demonstrate the use of a microfluidic setup to prepare monodisperse and spherical beads from a liquid crystalline elastomer. These particles show a strong and reversible shape change into a cigar-like conformation during the transition into the isotropic phase. These properies are a result of the monodomainic alignment of the mesogens in the flow field of the microfluidic setup. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.