Coordinated, photochemically induced color changes and locomotion from highly compliant, azobenzene-functionalized cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers

Light-responsive soft materials capable of reversible shape morphing and structural color modulation hold promise for next-generation adaptive systems with dynamic behaviors. However, achieving rapid and simultaneous color changes and locomotion in soft materials remains challenging. Here, we synthesize highly compliant, azobenzene-functionalized cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers, with a Young’s modulus of ∼300 kPa and a fracture strain of ∼1.26, from the oligomeric precursors, and Young’s modulus of ∼ 600 kPa and a fracture strain of ∼1.21 from the one-pot polymerization of the monomers, respectively. Their thin films demonstrate reversible photochemical shape morphing, including bending, translation, and rotation, with bending initiated within ∼1 s in ultrathin films and simultaneous structural color modulation with peak wavelength redshifts up to 48 nm under ultraviolet irradiation. We demonstrate butterfly-inspired wing flipping and cephalopod-like swimming coupled with dynamic mantle coloration, highlighting the material’s light-responsiveness and versatility.