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April 30, 2026Advanced Robotics Research1 citationsOpen Access

Advances in Electroactive Liquid Crystal Elastomers for Intelligent Robotics and Electronics

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KRKavita Ramesh RathodSCS.H. ChonJHJae Hyuk Hwang

Key Points

  • This review categorizes and discusses the applications of electroactive liquid crystal elastomers in robotics and electronics.
  • Classified eLCEs into robotic actuators and adaptive electronics categories.
  • Examined activation mechanisms for robotic and electronic applications.
  • Provided insights on fabrication strategies for eLCEs.
  • Highlighted programmable and reversible deformation in eLCEs as robotic actuators.
  • Demonstrated the use of eLCEs in adaptive electronics, such as stretchable conductors and sensing antennas.
  • Indicated potential advancements in soft robotics and dynamic interface systems with eLCEs.

Abstract

Electroactive liquid crystal elastomers (eLCEs) represent a rapidly emerging class of intelligent soft materials that integrate molecular anisotropy with electrical functionality. In this review, we classify eLCEs into two major subcategories: (i) robotic actuators, which enable programmable and reversible deformation in response to electrical stimuli, and (ii) adaptive electronics, which realize programmed morphing or functional reconfiguration. By coupling the orientational order of liquid crystals with the elasticity of polymer networks, robotic eLCEs convert electrical energy into mechanical actuation through diverse mechanisms, including electrothermal, electromechanical, electrostatic, and electrochemical pathways. In addition, electronic eLCEs primarily function as morphing substrates capable of controlled shape transformation, enabling reconfigurable electronic systems such as stretchable conductors, sensing antennas, and neural interfaces. To guide the field, this review provides an overview of activation mechanisms in eLCEs, followed by representative robotic and electronic applications with an emphasis on fabrication strategies that bridge material‐level advances toward next‐generation intelligent devices. Collectively, these advances highlight the significant potential of eLCEs for future soft robotics, adaptive electronics, and dynamic interface systems.

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Cite This Study

Rathod et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69f2a4b78c0f03fd67763d32https://doi.org/10.1002/adrr.70128
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