Hybrid nanocomposites based on magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in liquid crystalline elastomers are fascinating emerging materials. Their expected strong magneto-elastic coupling may open new applications as actuators, magnetic switches, and for reversible storage of magnetic information. We report here the synthesis of a novel hybrid ferromagnetic liquid crystalline elastomer. In this material, highly anisotropic Co nanorods are aligned through a cross-linking process performed in the presence of an external magnetic field. We obtain a highly anisotropic magnetic material which exhibits remarkable magneto-elastic coupling. The nanorod alignment can be switched at will at room temperature by weak mechanical stress, leading to a change of more than 50 % of the remnant magnetization ratio and of the coercive field.
Keywords: cobalt nanorods; elastomers; hybrid materials; magnetic actuators; magnetization.
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