Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40813375›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Geometrically insensitive deform-and-go liquid crystal elastomer actuators through controlled radical diffusion.

Xiaorui Zhou, Yi Sheng, Guancong Chen, Hong Wan, Luping Lu, Hao Xing, Jiacheng Huang, Zhan Zhu, Yufei Wang, Hanyuan Bao and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Xiaorui ZhouState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yi ShengState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Guancong ChenState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Hong WanState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Luping LuState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Hao XingHangzhou Zhijiang Advanced Material Co., Ltd, tests.711, Hangzhou, China.
Jiacheng HuangState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Zhan ZhuState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Yufei WangState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Hanyuan BaoState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
Jingjun WuState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9026-5541
Qian ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6931-9859
Tao XieState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0222-9717
Ning ZhengState Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. zhengning@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8114-553X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 22275162National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 52322307Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation) LZ25E030007
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The geometric shape and programming of mesogen alignment are two critical prerequisites for the effective actuation of liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuators. However, existing alignment programming approaches inevitably impose limitations on the geometric design of LCEs. In this study, we introduce a controlled radical diffusion mechanism that enables geometrically insensitive programming of actuation. Our findings show that LCEs can be deformed into complex structures via soft-elasticity and achieve the required mesogen alignment by simply soaking the LCE in an aqueous solvent of a free-radical initiator. The process requires no external assistance (maintained force, fixture, heating, or light) and the omnidirectional radicals' diffusion enables precise implementation of actuation across arbitrary geometries, including those produced through 3D printing, molding, embossing, and origami techniques. This "deform-and-go" strategy allows for scalable and versatile fabrication of advanced LCE actuators, representing a significant advancement in soft robotics engineering.

Identifiers

PMID40813375
PMCPMC12354880

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.