fig1

Figure 1. Summary of the review on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). The main synthesis methods include the two-stage and one-pot crosslinking reaction methods. With strategic material designs, LCEs could be responsive to a variety of external stimuli, such as heat, light, and electric/magnetic field, among others. Owing to their outstanding actuation performances, LCEs can be adopted for applications in a wide range of areas, including soft robotics, sensors, and biomedical devices, among others. Image for “mechaninical”. The stress and strain curves. Reproduced with permission^[38,39]. Copyright 2020, Wiley Periodicals LLC. Image for “thermal”. Reproduced with permission^[23]. Copyright 2005, The Royal Society of Chemistry. Image for “optical”. The upside image: Reproduced with permission^[40]. Copyright 2019 WILEY-VCH. The downside image: Reproduced with permission^[41]. Copyright 2016, WILEY-VCH. Image for “electric”. Reproduce with permission^[42]. Copyright 2018, WILEY-VCH. Image for “others”. The left-side image. Reproduced with permission^[43]. Copyright 2022, American Association for the Advancement of Science. The right-side image. Reproduced with permission^[44]. Copyright 2021, Wiley-VCH. The image in soft robotics from left to right. Reproduced with permission^[45]. Reproduced with permission^[46]. Copyright 2019, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Copyright 2019, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Reproduced with permission^[47]. Copyright 2022, National Academy of Science. The sensor from left to right. Reproduced with permission^[14]. Copyright 2021, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Reproduced with permission^[48]. Copyright 2022, Wiley-VCH GmbH. Reproduced with permission^[49]. Copyright 2020, American Chemical Society. The biomedical device from left to right. Reproduced with permission^[50]. Copyright 2022, Elsevier. Reproduced with permission^[51]. Copyright 2016, American Chemical Society. Reproduced with permission^[52]. Copyright 2021, WILEY-VCH. The other device from left to right. Reproduced with permission^[12]. Copyright 2020, WILEY-VCH. Reproduced with permission^[53]. Copyright 2021, WILEY-VCH. Reproduced with permission^[54]. Copyright 2019, American Chemical Society.