Reconfigurable cellular metamaterials

Last updated on Jun 12, 2026
Image credit: Shucong Li

Liquid crystalline elastomers can be programmed to undergo anisotropic transformations through spatial control of molecular alignment. This project explores how local liquid crystal orientation can be coupled with cellular architecture to create reconfigurable microstructured materials with programmable shape change.

soft materials liquid crystalline elastomers metamaterials
Soft Responsive Materials Laboratory (SRM-Lab)

My research focuses on developing new stimuli-responsive polymeric microstructured surfaces and microactuators—leveraging fundamental principles of polymer science, chemical synthesis, mechanics, and advanced nano/microfabrication techniques—for applications in miniaturized soft robotics as well as optical and mechanical meta-devices.