Muscle‐Inspired Learnable Liquid Crystal Elastomer Enabled by Dynamic Reaction and Mesogenic Re‐Orientation

Abstract

ABSTRACT The learning capability of skeletal muscle enables adaptive enhancement in response to different stimuli, making it a promising concept in soft matter. The key point is how to construct multiscale muscle‐like structures and acquire “learning” capability, but these two functions have not yet been acquired in one material. Here, we combine dynamic exchange with mesogenic self‐assembly to construct an elastomer exhibiting apparent local mechanical contrast and a persistent training‐history‐dependent mechanical response. The mesogens serve as responsive structural units that retain aspects of the training history through local topological remodeling of the network. Compared to the significant strength gains (∼17.4%) achieved through resistance training over 12–15 weeks in human muscle tissue, the ultimate strength of the elastomer increased from 4.5 to 7.2 MPa (∼53.5%) after 100 training cycles, with an energy dissipation efficiency decrease of only 0.4%. The material's versatility as a serviceable and reprogrammable component was also demonstrated. This work establishes a paradigm for sustainable, reprogrammable soft materials that not only evolve with use but also offer a closed‐loop lifecycle for next‐generation adaptive devices.