Formation of Liquid Crystal Elastomer Microparticles

Liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) combines the properties of rubber elasticity and anisotropic properties of liquid crystalline materials. In particular, LCE has a potential to exhibit interesting properties like electric polarization, ferroelectricity and piezo-electricity. Thin films, fibers and even balloons of LCE using techniques such as spin coating, electro-spinning and in cells have been reported by many groups before. Using microfluidics technique followed by photo-polymerization, we produce uniform spherical LCE microspheres with diameter of 20 - 85 $\mu m$. Compression of the LCE microspheres generates a characteristic director configuration. The elastomers may also reveal interesting magnetic and electrical properties due to the intrinsically anisotropic nature of liquid crystalline materials.