Reconfigurable Antennas Based on Self-Morphing Liquid Crystalline Elastomers

Pattern- and frequency-reconfigurable antennas are developed using metalized liquid crystalline elastomers that can change their geometries from flat to helical shapes. The pitch angle and the number of turns in this transformation are controlled by temperature. An external heat source is applied to reshape the geometry of these antennas, thereby reconfiguring their performance. The antennas are characterized using simulations and measurements.