New Welding Strategy Enables Complex-Shaped Liquid Crystal Elastomer Actuators

Researchers at Tampere University have developed a novel welding‑based fabrication method for liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) actuators, allowing the assembly of complex, multicomponent soft robotic structures with programmable shape transformations. Jie Jiang and the team demonstrated that dynamic disulfide bonds can weld LCE segments while preserving molecular orientation, overcoming limitations of physical adhesives and enabling sophisticated actuator designs. This work was carried out in collaboration by Smart Photonic Materials group and Light Robor group, combining expertise in polymer chemistry and stimuli-responsive soft materials. The advance opens new possibilities for creating arbitrarily aligned, responsive soft robotic elements and highlights the potential of dynamic LCE systems for future smart materials applications. Congratulations to Jie Jiang on this exciting contribution!