The Polymer Society of Korea

김현지 (국립부경대학교)

김대석 (국립부경대학교)

Photothermal actuators have emerged as attractive candidates for soft robotics and smart material systems because they can deliver rapid, remote, and reversible actuation. Incorporating graphene and its derivatives into polymer matrices is a promising strategy to enhance photothermal conversion and mechanical performance, but uniform dispersion remains a significant challenge.

In this work, we fabricated ho liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) composites using three types of graphene: graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and non-oxidized graphene flake (NOGF). SEM and UTM data confirmed homogeneous dispersion in the LCE matrix. When irradiated with near-infrared light, the rGO-LCE composites displayed the highest photothermal actuation efficiency, attributable to their optimal balance of light absorption and interfacial compatibility. Our findings provide valuable guidance for designing advanced photothermal soft actuators.