The goal of the protocol is to create liquid crystalline polymer films that can mechanically oscillate under continuous light irradiation. We describe in great detail the conception of free-standing films, from the liquid crystal alignment method to the photo-actuation. The experimental protocol applied to prepare this material is broadly applicable.
Vantomme, G., Gelebart, A. H., Broer, D. J., Meijer, E. W. Preparation of Liquid Crystal Networks for Macroscopic Oscillatory Motion Induced by Light. J. Vis. Exp. (127), e56266, doi:10.3791/56266 (2017).