Photo responsive silver nanoparticles incorporated liquid crystalline elastomer nanocomposites based on surface plasmon resonance

We reported a nano-Ag/liquid crystalline elastomer(LCE) nanocomposite by incorporating silver nanoparticles into a monodomain polysiloxane-based LCE matrix via a novel experimental protocol. The photo-thermo-mechanical actuation of the LCE matrix was realized via the surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles while converting light into heat. The photoresponsive properties of nano-Ag/LCE nanocomposites were investigated with varying illumination intensities and silver nanoparticle doping concentrations(0.04% to 0.2%, mass fraction). The nano-Ag/LCE nanocomposites show sensitive deformation under irradiation due to their excellent photo-thermal conversion efficiency, and this photostimulated muscle-like actuation is fully reversible via the on-off behavior of light. Incorporating silver nanoparticles into the LCE matrix also improves the mechanical properties and enhances the load-actuation capability of the material.