Exploiting Molecular Orders at the Interface of Microdroplets for Intelligent Materials

Accounts of Chemical Research, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 57(5), С. 739 - 750

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2024

ConspectusThe intrinsic molecular order of liquid crystals (LCs) and crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is the origin their stimuli-responsive properties. The programmable responsiveness functionality, such as shape morphing color change under external stimuli, are key features that attract interest in designing LC- LCE-based intelligent material platforms. Methods mechanical stretching shearing, surface alignment, field-assisted alignment have been exploited to program LC molecules for desired responsiveness. However, huge size mismatch between nanometer-sized mesogens targeted macroscopic objects calls questions about how delicately control performance. Microparticles can be synthesized with precisely controlled micrometer used building blocks bulk materials, thus offering opportunities bridge gap transcend orders across scales. By taking advantage interfacial anchoring effects, we engineer inside microdroplets, allowing realization various responsive behaviors. Furthermore, designer microparticles multiple assembled confined within a matrix, opening new pathway engineering LC-enabled materials.In this Account, present our recent work on exploiting microdroplets construction materials. We briefly introduce typical chemicals synthesis methods developed microdroplets. then examples from transform into complex morphologies upon cooling isotropic nematic phase or due separation droplets coupled segregation oligomers (LCOs) polydisperse chain lengths. show elliptical LCE exploit thermal magnetic shape-morphing behaviors microarrays switchable optical polarization. mixing nanoparticles cholesteric (CLCs) silicone oils, created Janus capable switching camouflage information encryption. Moreover, by different surfactants, yielding diverse anisotropic, temperature-responsive shapes after photopolymerization extraction template solvents. conclude Account an outlook design systems via unprecedented ordering coupling

Язык: Английский

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Controlled Self-Assembly of Cellulose Nanocrystal as Custom-Tailored Photonics and Complex Soft Matter

Accounts of Materials Research, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Сен. 13, 2024

Язык: Английский

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Self‐Assembled 3D Blue Phase Liquid Crystals for Intelligent Photonic Crystals and Functional Devices

Advanced Optical Materials, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 17, 2025

Abstract Liquid crystal (LC) materials, with their supramolecular self‐assembly nanostructures and stimulus‐responsive properties, offer inherent advantages in the development of advanced intelligent functional materials. Among various LC phase, blue phase liquid crystals (BPs) are regarded as promising candidates for photonic due to unique 3D periodic capability selectively reflect circularly polarized light within visible spectrum. Over past decades, methodologies developed synthesize BP materials superior thermal stability, high‐quality optical properties excellent stimulus‐responsibility, yielding significant research outcomes design application visual devices. Herein, this review summarizes recent advancements BPLCs. It comprehensively covers structural characteristics preparation methods crystals, detailing findings optical, electrical, mechanical, humidity‐responsive well pivotal applications sensors, devices, stimulus response, anti‐counterfeiting Finally, challenges prospective directions novel soft matter material discussed. is anticipated that will provide valuable insights scientists engineers interdisciplinary fields, including science, photonics, chemistry, physics, facilitating fabrication

Язык: Английский

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Ultrasound-propelled liquid crystal microsensor: “On-the-fly” chemistry to accelerate detection efficiency

Sensors and Actuators B Chemical, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 137522 - 137522

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Topologically reconfigurable nematic emulsions

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 122(11)

Опубликована: Март 12, 2025

In emulsions of multicomponent fluids, the dispersed phase forms tiny droplets in continuous phase. situ control and manipulation to achieve diversity emulsion for emerging applications is challenging. a liquid crystal-based emulsion, surface anchoring molecules at isotropic fluid-liquid crystal interface introduces elastic distortions that result anisotropic interparticle interactions, similar electrostatic interactions between multipoles, which also lends naming analogy as dipoles, quadrupoles, higher. However, controlling condition will rarely achieved. Here, we present an system silicone oil nematic spontaneously induce conic anchoring, forming hexadecapoles without any surfactant. The degenerate shows reversible transition tangential homeotropic below above ambient temperature, respectively. We introduce physical design principle three-phase compound with diverse morphologies topologies by fusing dipoles glycerol droplets. surrounding director field resulting defect structure are analyzed numerical simulations. Our approach allow on-demand building blocks engineered reconfigurable composite materials.

Язык: Английский

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Chiral, Topological, and Knotted Colloids in Liquid Crystals

Crystals, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(10), С. 885 - 885

Опубликована: Окт. 11, 2024

The geometric shape, symmetry, and topology of colloidal particles often allow for controlling phase behavior physical properties these soft matter systems. In liquid crystalline dispersions, with low symmetry nontrivial surface confinement are particular interest, including surfaces shaped as handlebodies, spirals, knots, multi-component links, so on. These types induce topologically three-dimensional director field configurations topological defects. Director switching by electric fields, laser tweezing defects, local photo-thermal melting the crystal host medium promote transformations among many stable metastable particle-induced that can be revealed means direct label-free nonlinear optical imaging. interplay between topologies surfaces, defects is found to show a number unexpected features, such knotting linking line uniquely arising from nonpolar nature nematic field. This review article highlights fascinating examples new molecular order both chiral inclusions within host. Furthermore, concludes brief discussion how findings may lay groundwork topology-dictated self-assembly in condensed leading novel mesostructured composite materials, well experimental insights into pure-math aspects low-dimensional topology.

Язык: Английский

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Progress in Fabrication and Applications of Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Microcapsules

Chemistry - A European Journal, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 30(8)

Опубликована: Ноя. 16, 2023

Abstract Liquid crystals (LCs) are well known for inherent responsiveness to external stimuli, such as light, thermal, magnetic, and electric fields. Cholesteric LCs among the most fascinating, since they possess distinctive optical properties due helical molecular orientation. However, good flow, easy contamination, poor stability of small‐molecule limit their further applications, microencapsulation one effective tools can evade these disadvantages. Microencapsulation offer shell‐core structure with in core strengthen stability, avoiding interference environment while maintaining stimuli‐responsiveness properties. Here, we report recent progress fabrication applications cholesteric LC microcapsules (CLCMCs). We summarize general basic principles, methods including interfacial polymerization, in‐situ complex coacervation, solvent evaporation, microfluidic polymerization reactive mesogens, then give a comprehensive overview various popular domains, smart fabrics, sensor, displays, anti‐counterfeiting, information encryption, biomedicine actuators. Finally, discuss currently facing challenges potential development directions this field.

Язык: Английский

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Integrating the Stimuli‐Responsiveness of Microparticles via Matrix Embedding for Smart Soft Materials with Customized Switchable Properties

Advanced Functional Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Июль 16, 2024

Abstract Smart soft materials are the focus of extensive research efforts due to their potential applications in various fields. Inspired by nature, embedding smart micro‐inclusions a substrate provides feasible strategy integrate smartness individual microparticles for creating at macroscale, broadening capabilities and materials. This decouples design intelligence materials, leading broader space both mechanical properties composites. In this Perspective, recent advances using summarized. The methods developed construct composites matrix first introduced, followed detailed discussions on material compositions, stimuli responsiveness, composite systems. Various based advanced functionalities that enabled those highlighted. study also points out directions further advance unconventional following bioinspired approach.

Язык: Английский

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LCPOM: Precise Reconstruction of Polarized Optical Microscopy Images of Liquid Crystals

Chemistry of Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 36(7), С. 3081 - 3091

Опубликована: Март 28, 2024

When examined with polarized optical microscopy (POM), liquid crystals display interference colors and complex patterns that depend on the material's microscopic orientation. That orientation can be manipulated by application of external fields, a feature provides basis for applications in sensing technologies. The color themselves have high information content. Traditionally, however, calculations appearance been performed assuming single-wavelength light source is employed reported monochromatic scale. In this work, original Jones matrix method extended to calculate colored images arise when crystal exposed multiwavelength source. By accounting material properties, including local orientation, visible spectrum, CIE (International Commission Illumination) matching functions, we demonstrate proposed approach produces POM are quantitative agreement experimental data. Results presented variety systems, radial, bipolar, cholesteric droplets, where results simulations compared images. effects droplet size, topological defect structure, systematically. technique introduced here generates directly experiments, thereby facilitating machine learning efforts aimed at interpreting LC paving way inverse design materials capable producing specific internal microstructures response stimuli.

Язык: Английский

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Programmable Mechanochromic Time Integrators

Advanced Functional Materials, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Ноя. 22, 2024

Abstract Mechanochromic polymers are receiving much attention for monitoring the structural performance of materials. Current mechanochromic however do not offer simultaneous detection duration and degree strain while retaining memory history. Here a structurally colored polymer coating is reported that can indicate, quantify, memorize over time. The fabricated by simple scalable bar process. consists chemically optically distinct cholesteric liquid crystal droplets. Upon strain, droplets deform causing an eye‐discernible reflective color change through diffusion‐based compositional ripening response depends on both be easily adjusted concentration in coating. programmable time integrator offers sensitive wide range exhibiting memorability. user‐interactive interface allows people to visually perceive history materials introduces novel material ultimately enhancing safety performance.

Язык: Английский

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