Light‑Driven “Smart” Material Oscillates When Loaded

Zixuan Deng together with other researchers from Tampere University and Anhui Jianzhu University (China) have developed a novel light‑fueled self‑oscillating material that responds to mechanical force, opening paths toward adaptive soft robots and sensors. The team used a light‑responsive liquid‑crystal network (LCN) strip that, under constant illumination and an applied load, transitions from static deformation to continuous motion. The oscillation amplitude increases with light intensity and can reach up to around 300°, while its frequency decreases as the load grows—revealing intrinsic sensitivity to force. This force‑assisted self‑oscillation works across various deformation modes and mimics aspects of biological mechanosensation, offering a simplified design for non‑equilibrium, dynamically adaptive materials. Please find the full version here.