Training and retraining liquid crystal elastomer metamaterials for pluripotent functionality

Abstract

Training has emerged as a promising materials design technique in which function can be achieved through repeated physical modification of an existing material rather than by direct chemical functionalization, cutting, or reprocessing. This work investigates both the ability to train for function and then to erase that function on-demand in macroscopic metamaterials made from liquid crystal elastomers. We first show that the Poisson’s ratio of these disordered arrays can be tuned via directed aging to induce an auxetic response. We then show that the arrays can be reset and retrained for another local mechanical function, allostery, thus demonstrating pluripotent functionality.