Abstract: A method is disclosed for realizing a liquid crystal tri-dimensional aligned structure, including: providing a first substrate having a first surface; forming a liquid crystal layer in contact to said first surface, said liquid crystal layer including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound; realizing a first aligning formation within said liquid crystal layer by irradiating a first portion of said liquid crystal layer with electromagnetic or electron beam radiation according to a given first pattern, so that said first portion of liquid crystal compound becomes polymerized and said first aligning formation is made of said polymerized liquid crystal compound according to said given first pattern, said first aligning structure defining a first aligning axis; locally orienting optical axes of molecules of said liquid crystal layer along said first aligning axis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for realizing a liquid crystal tri-dimensional aligned structure, including: providing a first substrate having a first surface; forming a liquid crystal layer in contact to said first surface, said liquid crystal layer including a polymerizable liquid crystal compound; realizing a first aligning formation within said liquid crystal layer by irradiating a first portion of said liquid crystal layer with electromagnetic or electron beam radiation according to a given first pattern, so that said first portion of liquid crystal compound becomes polymerized and said first aligning formation is made of said polymerized liquid crystal compound according to said given first pattern, said first aligning structure defining a first aligning axis; locally orienting optical axes of molecules of said liquid crystal layer along said first aligning axis.

Abstract: A liquid crystal elastomer actuator to move in a fluid is described herein. The actuator includes a body with dimensions between 100 nm and 800 ?m having a low Reynolds number. The body includes a first and a second spatially separated volume, each comprising a liquid crystal elastomer. The first volume is doped with a first photoactive doping substance to absorb electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength and the second volume is doped with a second photoactive doping substance to absorb electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength. The first and second volumes change shape as a consequence of light absorption at the first or second wavelength, defining a first and a second joint. A first absorbance of the first volume at a given wavelength is different than a second absorbance of the second volume at a given wavelength, the first and second absorbance are measured in the same time interval.