Liquid Crystals: Versatile Self-Organized Smart Soft Materials

Chemical Reviews, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 122(5), С. 4887 - 4926

Опубликована: Дек. 23, 2021

Smart soft materials are envisioned to be the building blocks of next generation advanced devices and digitally augmented technologies. In this context, liquid crystals (LCs) owing their responsive adaptive attributes could serve as promising smart materials. LCs played a critical role in revolutionizing information display industry 20th century. However, turn 21st century, numerous beyond-display applications have been demonstrated, which elegantly exploit controllable stimuli-responsive characteristics. For these applications, new LC rationally designed developed. Review, we present recent developments light driven chiral LCs, i.e., cholesteric blue phases, based windows that control entrance heat from outdoor interior buildings built environments depending on weather conditions, elastomers for bioinspired, biological, actuator biosensors detection proteins, nucleic acids, viruses, porous membranes separation ions, molecules, microbes, living under macro- nanoscopic confinement. The Review concludes with summary perspectives challenges opportunities This is anticipated stimulate eclectic ideas toward implementation nature's delicate phase matter future generations beyond.

Язык: Английский

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Beyond the Visible: Bioinspired Infrared Adaptive Materials

Advanced Materials, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 33(14)

Опубликована: Фев. 24, 2021

Abstract Infrared (IR) adaptation phenomena are ubiquitous in nature and biological systems. Taking inspiration from natural creatures, researchers have devoted extensive efforts for developing advanced IR adaptive materials exploring their applications areas of smart camouflage, thermal energy management, biomedical science, many other IR‐related technological fields. Herein, an up‐to‐date review is provided on the recent advancements bioinspired promising applications. First overview artificial technologies presented. Recent endeavors then introduced toward camouflage radiative cooling. According to Stefan‐Boltzmann law, can be realized by either emissivity engineering or cloaks. cooling maximize radiation object through atmospheric transparency window, thus holds great potential use energy‐efficient green buildings personal management advances emerging near‐IR (NIR) also discussed, including NIR‐triggered technologies, NIR light‐fueled soft robotics, light‐driven supramolecular nanosystems. This concludes with a perspective challenges opportunities future development materials.

Язык: Английский

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The Future of Molecular Machines

ACS Central Science, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 6(3), С. 347 - 358

Опубликована: Март 3, 2020

Artificial molecular machines have captured the imagination of scientists and nonscientists alike for decades now, given their clear potential to transform enhance all aspects human life. In this Outlook, I use a bicycle as an analogy explain what machine is, in my opinion, work through representative selection case studies specify significant accomplishments made date, obstacles that currently stand between these field's fulfillment its great potential. The hope intentionally sober account is sketch path toward rich exciting research trajectory might challenge current practitioners attract junior into fold. Considering progress we witnessed past decade, am positive future field rosy one.

Язык: Английский

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Carbon-based functional nanomaterials: Preparation, properties and applications

Composites Science and Technology, Год журнала: 2019, Номер 179, С. 10 - 40

Опубликована: Апрель 26, 2019

Язык: Английский

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Near‐Infrared Light‐Driven Shape‐Morphing of Programmable Anisotropic Hydrogels Enabled by MXene Nanosheets

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Год журнала: 2020, Номер 60(7), С. 3390 - 3396

Опубликована: Дек. 1, 2020

Abstract Herein, we report near‐infrared (NIR) light‐driven shape‐morphing of programmable MXene‐containing anisotropic hydrogel actuators that are fabricated through in situ free‐radical copolymerization a judiciously designed MXene nanomonomer with thermosensitive network. A low electric field (few V mm −1 ) was found to enable spatial distribution nanosheets and hence introduce anisotropy into the Programmable were developed by controlling ITO electrode pattern, direct‐current (DC) direction mask‐assisted photopolymerization. As proof‐of‐concept, demonstrate NIR shape morphing various shapes devise four‐arm soft gripper can perform distinct photomechanical functions such as grasping, lifting/lowering down releasing an object upon sequential light exposure.

Язык: Английский

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Mechanochromic, Shape‐Programmable and Self‐Healable Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Elastomers Enabled by Dynamic Covalent Boronic Ester Bonds

Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 61(9)

Опубликована: Дек. 28, 2021

Endowing a cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) exhibiting helicoidal nanostructure with dynamically tailorable functionalities is of paramount significance for its emerging applications in diverse fields such as adaptive optics and soft robotics. Here, mechanochromic, shape-programmable self-healable CLCE judiciously designed synthesized through integrating dynamic covalent boronic ester bonds into the main-chain polymer network. The circularly polarized reflection CLCEs can be reversibly tuned across entire visible spectrum by mechanical stretching. Thanks to introduction bonds, were found show robust reprogrammable self-healing capabilities. research disclosed herein provide new insights development 4D (color 3D shape) programmable photonic actuators towards bioinspired camouflage, optical systems, next-generation intelligent machines.

Язык: Английский

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Advanced Functional Liquid Crystals

Advanced Materials, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 34(23)

Опубликована: Янв. 16, 2022

Abstract Liquid crystals have been intensively studied as functional materials. Recently, integration of various disciplines has led to new directions in the design liquid‐crystalline materials fields energy, water, photonics, actuation, sensing, and biotechnology. Here, recent advances liquid based on polymers, supramolecular complexes, gels, colloids, inorganic‐based hybrids are reviewed, from strategies functionalization these interfaces. New insights into provided by significant progress advanced measurements computational simulations, which enhance materials, also discussed.

Язык: Английский

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Bioinspired Phototropic MXene‐Reinforced Soft Tubular Actuators for Omnidirectional Light‐Tracking and Adaptive Photovoltaics

Advanced Functional Materials, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 32(26)

Опубликована: Март 3, 2022

Abstract Endowing artificial advanced materials and systems with biomimetic self‐regulatory intelligence is of paramount significance for the development somatosensory soft robotics adaptive optoelectronics. Herein, a bioinspired phototropic MXene‐reinforced tubular actuator reported that exhibits omnidirectional self‐orienting ability capable quickly sensing, continuously tracking, adaptively interacting incident light in all zenithal azimuthal angles 3D space. The novelty lies three aspects: 1) new polymerizable MXene nanomonomer shows high compatibility liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) matrices can be situ photopolymerized into polymer networks, thus enhancing mechanical photoactuation properties; 2) distinct hollow radially symmetrical structure facilitates fast photoresponsiveness performance through retarding heat conduction along radial direction; 3) MXene‐LCE simultaneously integrates actuation, built‐in feedback loop, leading to light‐tracking accuracy phototropism like stem plants nature. As proof‐of‐concept demonstration, an photovoltaic system solar energy harvesting maximization illustrated. This work provide insights intelligent toward optoelectronics, robotics, beyond.

Язык: Английский

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Circularly polarized luminescence in chiral materials

Matter, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 5(3), С. 837 - 875

Опубликована: Фев. 3, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Geminate labels programmed by two-tone microdroplets combining structural and fluorescent color

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 29, 2021

Abstract Creating a security label that carries entirely distinct information in reflective and fluorescent states would enhance anti-counterfeiting levels to deter counterfeits ranging from currencies pharmaceuticals, but has proven extremely challenging. Efforts tune the reflection color of luminescent materials by modifying inherent chemical structures remain outweighed substantial trade-offs fluorescence properties, vice versa, which destroys integrity labels either or color. Here, strategy is reported design geminate programming cholesteric liquid crystal microdroplets (two-tone inks), where material ‘coated’ with structural helical superstructures. These structurally defined fabricated capillary microfluidic technique contribute different intact messages both patterns labels. Such two-tone inks have enormous potential provide platform for encryption protection valuable authentic technology.

Язык: Английский

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