Shape memory polymers (SMPs) have received significant attention from scientists in recent years. This paper presents a simple route to design light-thermo stage-responsive SMPs. A novel series of liquid crystalline shape memory polymer composites (coded as PSMPU-Azom) exhibiting stage-responsive shape memory properties were successfully prepared by incorporating 4-(4-oxyalkyl chain carbonyl) azodibenzoic acid (Azo11) into the PCL-based SMPs (PSMPU). The effect of Azo11 on the structure, morphology, and shape memory properties was carefully investigated. The results demonstrate that the incorporated Azo11 promotes the crystallizability of PSMPU. The obtained PSMPU-Azom composites form a two-phase structure comprising the PSMPU phase and Azo11 phase, while the polyurethane matrix even shows hard–soft phase separation structure. Therefore, the PSMPU-Azom composites retain the intrinsic liquid crystalline properties of Azo11. Moreover, the PSMPU-Azom composites have stage-responsive shape memory properties and hence, demonstrate unique features such as independent UV light-responsive deformation and thermal-responsive shape recovery. These composites display a rare combination of light- and thermal-responsiveness, which not only allows instantaneous shape-deformation under UV irradiation, but can also be temporarily fixed to a particular shape on stopping the UV irradiation at room temperature. The composites have good potential applications in smart optical devices, smart electronic devices, smart sensors, and robotic fingers.

中文翻译：

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具有阶段响应形状记忆效应的液晶聚氨酯复合材料的开发†

近年来，形状记忆聚合物（SMP）受到了科学家的极大关注。本文提出了一种设计光热阶段响应式SMP的简单方法。通过将4-（4-氧烷基链羰基）偶氮二苯甲酸（Azo11）掺入基于PCL的SMP中，成功制备了具有阶段响应形状记忆特性的一系列新型液晶形状记忆聚合物复合材料（编码为PSMPU-Azom）（ （PSMPU）。仔细研究了Azo11对结构，形态和形状记忆特性的影响。结果表明，掺入的Azo11促进了PSMPU的结晶性。所获得的PSMPU-Azom复合材料形成了包含PSMPU相和Azo11相的两相结构，而聚氨酯基体甚至显示出硬-软相分离结构。所以，PSMPU-Azom复合材料保留了Azo11固有的液晶性能。此外，PSMPU-Azom复合材料具有阶段响应的形状记忆特性，因此具有独特的功能，例如独立的UV光响应变形和热响应形状恢复。这些复合材料显示出光响应性和热响应性的罕见组合，不仅可以在UV照射下产生瞬时形状变形，而且在室温下停止UV照射时也可以暂时固定为特定形状。该复合材料在智能光学设备，智能电子设备，智能传感器和机械手手指中具有良好的潜在应用。PSMPU-Azom复合材料具有阶段响应的形状记忆特性，因此表现出独特的功能，例如独立的UV光响应变形和热响应形状恢复。这些复合材料显示出光响应性和热响应性的罕见组合，不仅可以在UV照射下产生瞬时形状变形，而且在室温下停止UV照射时也可以暂时固定为特定形状。该复合材料在智能光学设备，智能电子设备，智能传感器和机械手手指中具有良好的潜在应用。PSMPU-Azom复合材料具有阶段响应的形状记忆特性，因此表现出独特的功能，例如独立的UV光响应变形和热响应形状恢复。这些复合材料显示出光响应性和热响应性的罕见组合，不仅可以在UV照射下产生瞬时形状变形，而且在室温下停止UV照射时也可以暂时固定为特定形状。该复合材料在智能光学设备，智能电子设备，智能传感器和机械手手指中具有良好的潜在应用。不仅允许在紫外线照射下瞬时变形，而且还可以在室温下停止紫外线照射时暂时固定为特定形状。该复合材料在智能光学设备，智能电子设备，智能传感器和机械手手指中具有良好的潜在应用。不仅允许在紫外线照射下瞬时变形，而且还可以在室温下停止紫外线照射时暂时固定为特定形状。该复合材料在智能光学设备，智能电子设备，智能传感器和机械手手指中具有良好的潜在应用。