We demonstrate, for the first time, the low voltage-driven electromechanical effects in liquid crystal clastomers (LCEs) swollen with low molecular weight liquid crystal (LMWLC). Thin film polydomain (POLY) and monodomain (MONO) LCEs were embedded in a well-known LMWLC, 4-n-pentyl 1-4 cyanobipheny 1 (5CB), and introducted between transparent indium tin oxide electrodes with 100 hm separation. Absorbing 5cb into poly and mono LCEs, shapes changes were obtained in these materials by application of a small voltage. That is, compared to unswollen LCEs, a dramatic-200 times decrease of the critical fields was found for eletromechanical effect in swollen LCEs. The response time when the field was switched on in both poly and mono is below 2s. The result expect the outstanding potential of swollen LCEs as a low powered devices and actuator (e.g artificial muscles) |