1
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Becerra D, Jois PR, Hall LM. Coarse-grained modeling of polymers with end-on and side-on liquid crystal moieties: Effect of architecture. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:2895229. [PMID: 37290072 DOI: 10.1063/5.0152817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesogens, which are typically stiff rodlike or disklike molecules, are able to self-organize into liquid crystal (LC) phases in a certain temperature range. Such mesogens, or LC groups, can be attached to polymer chains in various configurations including within the backbone (main-chain LC polymers) or at the ends of side-chains attached to the backbone in an end-on or side-on configuration (side-chain LC polymers or SCLCPs), which can display synergistic properties arising from both their LC and polymeric character. At lower temperatures, chain conformations may be significantly altered due to the mesoscale LC ordering; thus, when heated from the LC ordered state through the LC to isotropic phase transition, the chains return from a more stretched to a more random coil conformation. This can cause macroscopic shape changes, which depend significantly on the type of LC attachment and other architectural properties of the polymer. Here, to study the structure-property relationships for SCLCPs with a range of different architectures, we develop a coarse-grained model that includes torsional potentials along with LC interactions of a Gay-Berne form. We create systems of different side-chain lengths, chain stiffnesses, and LC attachment types and track their structural properties as a function of temperature. Our modeled systems indeed form a variety of well-organized mesophase structures at low temperatures, and we predict higher LC-to-isotropic transition temperatures for the end-on side-chain systems than for analogous side-on side-chain systems. Understanding these phase transitions and their dependence on polymer architecture can be useful in designing materials with reversible and controllable deformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Becerra
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Pranav R Jois
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
| | - Lisa M Hall
- William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA
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2
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Coudert N, Debrie C, Rieger J, Nicolai T, Colombani O. Thermosensitive Hydrogels of BAB Triblock Copolymers Exhibiting Gradually Slower Exchange Dynamics and an Unexpected Critical Reorganization Temperature Upon Heating. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Coudert
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085Le Mans Cedex 9, France
| | - Clément Debrie
- Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), Polymer Chemistry Team, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8232, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Jutta Rieger
- Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire (IPCM), Polymer Chemistry Team, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 8232, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Taco Nicolai
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085Le Mans Cedex 9, France
| | - Olivier Colombani
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR 6283 CNRS Le Mans Université, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085Le Mans Cedex 9, France
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3
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Chi Y, Li Y, Zhao Y, Hong Y, Tang Y, Yin J. Bistable and Multistable Actuators for Soft Robots: Structures, Materials, and Functionalities. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2110384. [PMID: 35172026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202110384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Snap-through bistability is often observed in nature (e.g., fast snapping to closure of Venus flytrap) and the life (e.g., bottle caps and hair clippers). Recently, harnessing bistability and multistability in different structures and soft materials has attracted growing interest for high-performance soft actuators and soft robots. They have demonstrated broad and unique applications in high-speed locomotion on land and under water, adaptive sensing and fast grasping, shape reconfiguration, electronics-free controls with a single input, and logic computation. Here, an overview of integrating bistable and multistable structures with soft actuating materials for diverse soft actuators and soft/flexible robots is given. The mechanics-guided structural design principles for five categories of basic bistable elements from 1D to 3D (i.e., constrained beams, curved plates, dome shells, compliant mechanisms of linkages with flexible hinges and deformable origami, and balloon structures) are first presented, alongside brief discussions of typical soft actuating materials (i.e., fluidic elastomers and stimuli-responsive materials such as electro-, photo-, thermo-, magnetic-, and hydro-responsive polymers). Following that, integrating these soft materials with each category of bistable elements for soft bistable and multistable actuators and their diverse robotic applications are discussed. To conclude, perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinding Chi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Yanbin Li
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Yao Zhao
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Yaoye Hong
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Yichao Tang
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jie Yin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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4
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Chen Y, Yin L, Ge F, Tong X, Zhang H, Zhao Y. Liquid Crystalline Hydrogel with Thermally Induced Reversible Shape Change and Water-Triggered Shape Memory. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2100495. [PMID: 34633718 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liquid crystalline hydrogel (LCH) is synthesized through simultaneous polymerization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers in an oil-in-water emulsion, resulting in phase-separated liquid crystalline network (LCN) embedded in a hydrogel matrix. This material features some properties and functions of both LCN and hydrogel, displaying stable LC phase over repeated hydration and dehydration cycles of the hydrogel matrix. Using mechanically stretched and photocrosslinked LCH, the thermally induced LC-isotropic phase transition in LCN domains can be translated into reversible macroscopic deformation of the LCH. Moreover, the LCH exhibits water absorption-controlled shape memory effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Chen
- Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Lu Yin
- Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Feijie Ge
- Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Xia Tong
- Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Canada
| | - Hongji Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Biological Colloids, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Département de chimie, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, J1K 2R1, Canada
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5
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Lee C, Ndaya D, Bosire R, Gabinet UR, Sun J, Gopalan P, Kasi RM, Osuji CO. Effects of Labile Mesogens on the Morphology of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers in Thin Films. Macromolecules 2021. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Changyeon Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Dennis Ndaya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
- Polymer Program, Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Reuben Bosire
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
- Polymer Program, Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Uri R. Gabinet
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jian Sun
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Padma Gopalan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Rajeswari M. Kasi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
- Polymer Program, Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Chinedum O. Osuji
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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6
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Wang Y, McKinstry AH, Burke KA. Main-Chain Liquid Crystalline Hydrogels that Support 3D Stem Cell Culture. Biomacromolecules 2020; 21:2365-2375. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongjian Wang
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, 191 Auditorium Road Unit 3222, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3222, United States
| | - Amy H. McKinstry
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, 191 Auditorium Road Unit 3222, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3222, United States
| | - Kelly A. Burke
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, 191 Auditorium Road Unit 3222, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3222, United States
- Polymer Program, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 97 North Eagleville Road Unit 3136, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3136, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, 260 Glenbrook Road Unit 3247, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3247, United States
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7
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Kojima R, Hidaka S, Taira M, Kohri M, Taniguchi T, Kishikawa K, Karatsu T, Okabe E, Kondo F. Preparation of liquid crystal nanocapsules by polymerization of oil-in-water emulsion monomer droplets. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 563:122-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.12.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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8
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Zhang X, Chen L, Lim KH, Gonuguntla S, Lim KW, Pranantyo D, Yong WP, Yam WJT, Low Z, Teo WJ, Nien HP, Loh QW, Soh S. The Pathway to Intelligence: Using Stimuli-Responsive Materials as Building Blocks for Constructing Smart and Functional Systems. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1804540. [PMID: 30624820 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201804540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Systems that are intelligent have the ability to sense their surroundings, analyze, and respond accordingly. In nature, many biological systems are considered intelligent (e.g., humans, animals, and cells). For man-made systems, artificial intelligence is achieved by massively sophisticated electronic machines (e.g., computers and robots operated by advanced algorithms). On the other hand, freestanding materials (i.e., not tethered to a power supply) are usually passive and static. Hence, herein, the question is asked: can materials be fabricated so that they are intelligent? One promising approach is to use stimuli-responsive materials; these "smart" materials use the energy supplied by a stimulus available from the surrounding for performing a corresponding action. After decades of research, many interesting stimuli-responsive materials that can sense and perform smart functions have been developed. Classes of functions discussed include practical functions (e.g., targeting and motion), regulatory functions (e.g., self-regulation and amplification), and analytical processing functions (e.g., memory and computing). The pathway toward creating truly intelligent materials can involve incorporating a combination of these different types of functions into a single integrated system by using stimuli-responsive materials as the basic building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Linfeng Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Kang Hui Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Spandhana Gonuguntla
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Kang Wen Lim
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Dicky Pranantyo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Wai Pong Yong
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Wei Jian Tyler Yam
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Zhida Low
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Wee Joon Teo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Hao Ping Nien
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Qiao Wen Loh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
| | - Siowling Soh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore, 117585, Singapore
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9
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Xu Y, Atrens AD, Stokes JR. Liquid crystal hydroglass formed via phase separation of nanocellulose colloidal rods. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:1716-1720. [PMID: 30638248 DOI: 10.1039/c8sm02288g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A new anisotropic soft material - a liquid crystal 'hydroglass' (LCH) - is created from aqueous suspensions of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) colloidal rods. Under specific conditions, the NCC suspension separates into a colloid-rich attractive glass matrix phase and a coexisting liquid crystal phase. LCH provides similar viscoelastic properties to polymer and colloidal gels, but permits reversibly-orientating the colloidal rods through shear forces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia.
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10
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Wei W, Xiong H. Orientation and Morphology Control of the Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymer Thin Film by Liquid Crystalline Solvent. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:15455-15461. [PMID: 30422666 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b03318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The critical challenge to engineer the morphological structures in the strongly phase-segregated block copolymer thin film is to overcome the preferential wetting of the blocks at the interface and direct the self-assembly process. Herein, we utilize surface activity and selective solvation of a nematic (N) liquid crystalline (LC) solvent, 5CB, to facilely alter the LC anchoring and the orientation of the nanophase separated structures of the smectic-nematic (S-N) LC block copolymer thin film. For the neat S-N diblock copolymer thin film, the nanostructures are parallel aligned. In contrast, with continuous introduction of 5CB into the system, the orientations of the characteristic nanostructures and the morphologies of the LC thin film can be consequently changed, yielding the perpendicularly oriented lamellar or cylindrical structures with the feature size below 10 nm. The homeotropic alignment of the 5CB nematics near the air interface plays a critical role to induce this unique behavior in the S-N/5CB systems, which offers an opportunity to fine-tune the interfacial structures and the morphological patterning in the block copolymer thin film.
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11
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Ruan H, Chen G, Zhao X, Wang Y, Liao Y, Peng H, Feng CL, Xie X, Smalyukh II. Chirality-Enabled Liquid Crystalline Physical Gels with High Modulus but Low Driving Voltage. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:43184-43191. [PMID: 30421604 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b14488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Self-supporting liquid crystalline physical gels with facile electro-optic response are highly desirable, but their development is challenging because both the storage modulus and driving voltage increase simultaneously with gelator loading. Herein, we report liquid crystalline physical gels with high modulus but low driving voltage. This behavior is enabled by chirality transfer from the molecular level to three-dimensional fibrous networks during the self-assembly of 1,4-benzenedicarboxamide phenylalanine derivatives. Interestingly, the critical gel concentration is as low as 0.1 wt %. Our findings open doors to understanding and exploiting the role of chirality in organic gels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Ruan
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Guannan Chen
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Yonggui Liao
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Haiyan Peng
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Chuan-Liang Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering , Shanghai Jiaotong University , Shanghai 200240 , China
| | - Xiaolin Xie
- Key Lab for Material Chemistry of Energy Conversion and Storage, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) , Wuhan 430074 , China
| | - Ivan I Smalyukh
- Department of Physics and Materials Science and Engineering Program , University of Colorado at Boulder (CUB) , Boulder , Colorado 80309 , United States
- Sino-US Joint Research Center on Liquid Crystal Chemistry and Physics, HUST and CUB , Wuhan 430074 , China
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12
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Karausta A, Bukusoglu E. Liquid Crystal-Templated Synthesis of Mesoporous Membranes with Predetermined Pore Alignment. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:33484-33492. [PMID: 30198253 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b14121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that polymeric films templated from liquid crystals (LCs) provide basic design principles for the synthesis of mesoporous films with predetermined pore alignment. Specifically, we used LC mixtures of reactive [4-(3-acryloyoxypropyloxy) benzoic acid 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene ester (RM257)] and nonreactive [4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB)] mesogens confined in film geometries. The LC alignment was maintained by functionalization of the surfaces contacting the films during polymerization. Through photopolymerization followed by extraction of the unreacted mesogens, films of area in the order of 10 cm2 were obtained. We found that, when restricted to an area either through a mechanical or a configurational constraint, open and accessible pores were incorporated into the films. The average direction of the pores could be determined by the LC director during polymerization, and the average diameter of the pores can be tuned in the range of 10-40 nm by varying the reactive monomer concentration. The polymeric films synthesized here can potentially be used for the ultrafiltration purposes. We demonstrated successful separations of proteins and nanoparticles from aqueous media using the polymeric films. The films exhibited 2 orders of magnitude higher flux when the pores were aligned parallel to the permeate direction compared to the perpendicular direction. Overall, the outcomes of this study provide basic tools for the synthesis of porous polymeric films with predetermined pore directions that can potentially be suitable for separations, drug delivery, catalysts, and so forth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslı Karausta
- Chemical Engineering Department , Middle East Technical University , Ankara 06800 , Turkey
| | - Emre Bukusoglu
- Chemical Engineering Department , Middle East Technical University , Ankara 06800 , Turkey
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13
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Gandhi SS, Chien LC. Unraveling the Mystery of the Blue Fog: Structure, Properties, and Applications of Amorphous Blue Phase III. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1704296. [PMID: 28994150 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201704296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The amorphous blue phase III of cholesteric liquid crystals, also known as the "blue fog," are among the rising stars in materials science that can potentially be used to develop next-generation displays with the ability to compete toe-to-toe with disruptive technologies like organic light-emitting diodes. The structure and properties of the practically unobservable blue phase III have eluded scientists for more than a century since it was discovered. This progress report reviews the developments in this field from both fundamental and applied research perspectives. The first part of this progress report gives an overview of the 130-years-long scientific tour-de-force that very recently resulted in the revelation of the mysterious structure of blue phase III. The second part reviews progress made in the past decade in developing electrooptical, optical, and photonic devices based on blue phase III. The strong and weak aspects of the development of these devices are underlined and criticized, respectively. The third- and-final part proposes ideas for further improvement in blue phase III technology to make it feasible for commercialization and widespread use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Sandesh Gandhi
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Liang-Chy Chien
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
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14
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Wei W, You D, Xiong H. Thermotropic and Lyotropic Transitions of Concentrated Solutions of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers in a Liquid Crystalline Solvent. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Donglei You
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Huiming Xiong
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
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15
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Gandhi SS, Kim MS, Hwang JY, Chien LC. Electro-optical Memory of a Nanoengineered Amorphous Blue-Phase-III Polymer Scaffold. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2016; 28:8998-9005. [PMID: 27554290 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201603226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
An electro-optical (EO) memory device is presented, which is based on a 3D nanostructured polymer scaffold of the amorphous blue phase III (BPIII) of cholesteric liquid crystals (LCs), which can impart optical isotropy, optical activity, and sub-millisecond EO response of BPIII to conventional nematic LCs. This functional scaffold also enables the first experimental observation of the long debated structure of BPIII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Sandesh Gandhi
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
| | - Min Su Kim
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Jeoung-Yeon Hwang
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Liang-Chy Chien
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, 1425 Lefton Esplanade, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
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16
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Kim M, Park KJ, Seok S, Ok JM, Jung HT, Choe J, Oh DH, Kim DH. Fabrication of Microcapsules for Dye-Doped Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal-Based Smart Windows. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2015; 7:17904-9. [PMID: 26192469 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b04496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
A dye-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is an attractive material for application in smart windows. Smart windows using a PDLC can be operated simply and have a high contrast ratio compared to those of other devices that employed photochromic or thermochromic material. However, in conventional dye-doped PDLC methods, dye contamination can cause problems and has a limited degree of commercialization of electric smart windows. Here, we report on an approach to resolve dye-related problems by encapsulating the dye in monodispersed capsules. By encapsulation, a fabricated dye-doped PDLC had a contrast ratio of >120 at 600 nm. This fabrication method of encapsulating the dye in a core-shell structured microcapsule in a dye-doped PDLC device provides a practical platform for dye-doped PDLC-based smart windows.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jaehoon Choe
- ‡Research Park, LG Chem, 188, Munji-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-738, Republic of Korea
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Islam MT, Kamal T, Shin T, Seong B, Park SY. Self-assembly of a liquid crystal ABA triblock copolymer in a nematic liquid crystal solvent. POLYMER 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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18
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Kim S, Inoue W, Hirano S, Yagi R, Kuwahara Y, Ogata T, Kurihara S. Synthesis and optical properties of azobenzene side chain polymers derived from the bifunctional fumaric acid and itaconic acid. POLYMER 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Mkhonta SK, Elder KR, Huang ZF, Grant M. Microphase separation in comblike liquid-crystalline diblock copolymers. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2013; 88:042602. [PMID: 24229201 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.88.042602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The interplay between liquid crystallinity and microphase separation in comblike liquid-crystalline diblock copolymers is examined via a Brazovskii-type phenomenological model using both analytical and numerical calculations. For symmetric diblock copolymers we determine a critical electric field that is required to tilt the orientation of the constituent liquid crystals of the polymer side chains in the microphase-separated lamellar state. Such electrically induced reorientation of the liquid-crystal molecules can lead to substantially large changes of lamellar periodicity. Our numerical results show that highly aligned polymer lamellar domains can self-assemble when the liquid-crystal ordering precedes microphase separation, and that weak electric fields can be used to direct the self-assembly process due to the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid-crystal side chains. We also find that phase separation of asymmetric diblock copolymers can coexist with a network of liquid-crystal nematic orientations, with domain morphology depending on the details of copolymer and liquid-crystal coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Mkhonta
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA and Department of Physics, University of Swaziland, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni M201, Swaziland
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20
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Kaneko K, Oto K, Kawai T, Choi H, Kikuchi H, Nakamura N. Electrorheological Effect and Electro‐Optical Properties of Side‐on Liquid Crystalline Polysiloxane in a Nematic Solvent. Chemphyschem 2013; 14:2704-10. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201300093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Kaneko
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1‐1‐1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525‐8577 (Japan) address:
- Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 6‐1, Kasuga‐koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816‐8580 (Japan)
| | - Kodai Oto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1‐1‐1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525‐8577 (Japan) address:
| | - Toshiaki Kawai
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1‐1‐1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525‐8577 (Japan) address:
| | - Hyunseok Choi
- Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 6‐1, Kasuga‐koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816‐8580 (Japan)
| | - Hirotsugu Kikuchi
- Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University, 6‐1, Kasuga‐koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816‐8580 (Japan)
| | - Naotake Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1‐1‐1, Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525‐8577 (Japan) address:
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21
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Petr M, Katzman BA, DiNatale W, Hammond PT. Synthesis of a New, Low-Tg Siloxane Thermoplastic Elastomer with a Functionalizable Backbone and Its Use as a Rapid, Room Temperature Photoactuator. Macromolecules 2013. [DOI: 10.1021/ma400031z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Petr
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
02139, United States
| | - Bat-ami Katzman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
02139, United States
| | - William DiNatale
- US
Army Research Office, Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Cambridge,
Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Paula T. Hammond
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
02139, United States
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22
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Zhang J, Chen XF, Wei HB, Wan XH. Tunable assembly of amphiphilic rod–coil block copolymers in solution. Chem Soc Rev 2013; 42:9127-54. [DOI: 10.1039/c3cs60192g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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23
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Miyamoto N, Shintate M, Ikeda S, Hoshida Y, Yamauchi Y, Motokawa R, Annaka M. Liquid crystalline inorganic nanosheets for facile synthesis of polymer hydrogels with anisotropies in structure, optical property, swelling/deswelling, and ion transport/fixation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2013; 49:1082-4. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cc36654a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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24
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Pettau R, Müller T, Khazimullin M, Rehberg I, Schmidt HW. Structure-Property Relations of Liquid Crystalline Gels with ABA-Triblock Copolymers as Gelators. Z PHYS CHEM 2012. [DOI: 10.1524/zpch.2012.0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This paper reports on the influence of the structure of tailored ABA-triblock copolymers on physical gelation of the nematic liquid crystal 4'-n-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl (5CB), rheological properties, and the electro-optical response of the gels. The block copolymer gelators, comprised of two polystyrene A-blocks connected to a cyanobiphenyl-functionalized polyhydroxystyrene B-block, were synthesized by living anionic polymerization and functionalized by polymer analogous reactions. These block copolymers feature selective solubility. The B-block is soluble in the nematic and isotropic state of 5CB, whereas the polystyrene A-blocks are only soluble in the isotropic state. Consequently, upon cooling liquid crystalline gels are formed due to the controlled microphase-separation of the A-blocks. We show that the polymer composition and the different block lengths are important to vary the gel properties and the electro-optical response. It is confirmed that the gel formation correlates to the isotropic to nematic transition of 5CB for block copolymer gelators with sufficiently long A-blocks. Higher gel elasticity is obtained if gelators with short B-blocks are employed. The influence of the polymer network on the switching behavior of these liquid crystalline gels is investigated with respect to the electro-optical response in light scattering experiments. Intriguingly, these indicate a rearrangement of the nodes formed by the A-blocks under a strong electric field for block copolymers with short A-blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Pettau
- University of Bayreuth, Macromolecular Chemistry I, Bayreuth, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Müller
- University of Bayreuth, Experimental Physics V, Bayreuth, Deutschland
| | - Maxim Khazimullin
- Ufa Research Center, Russian Academy of Science, Institute of Physics of Molecules and Crystals, Ufa, Russische Föderation
| | - Ingo Rehberg
- University of Bayreuth, Experimental Physics V, Bayreuth, Deutschland
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25
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Park SY, Kavitha T, Kamal T, Khan W, Shin T, Seong B. Self-Assembly of dPS-Liquid Crystalline Diblock Copolymer in a Nematic Liquid Crystal Solvent. Macromolecules 2012. [DOI: 10.1021/ma300476j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Young Park
- Department
of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, #1370 Sangyuk-dong,
Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, South Korea
| | - Thangavelu Kavitha
- Department
of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, #1370 Sangyuk-dong,
Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, South Korea
| | - Tahseen Kamal
- Department
of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, #1370 Sangyuk-dong,
Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, South Korea
| | - Waliullah Khan
- Department
of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, #1370 Sangyuk-dong,
Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, South Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, 23200 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan
| | - Taegyu Shin
- Neutron Science Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1045 Daedeok-daero,
Yuseong-gu Daejeon, 305-353, South Korea
| | - Baekseok Seong
- Neutron Science Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 1045 Daedeok-daero,
Yuseong-gu Daejeon, 305-353, South Korea
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26
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Domenici V. 2H NMR studies of liquid crystal elastomers: macroscopic vs. molecular properties. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2012; 63:1-32. [PMID: 22546343 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2011.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/27/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Domenici
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, via Risorgimento 35, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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27
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Zhang J, Su J, Ma Y, Guo H. Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Phase Behavior of the 4-Cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl Liquid Crystal System. J Phys Chem B 2012; 116:2075-89. [DOI: 10.1021/jp210764h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular
Sciences,
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jiaye Su
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular
Sciences,
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yanping Ma
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular
Sciences,
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100190, China
| | - Hongxia Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular
Sciences,
State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of
Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Beijing 100190, China
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28
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Lehtovaara BC, Verma MS, Gu FX. Multi-phase ionotropic liquid crystalline gels with controlled architecture by self-assembly of biopolymers. Carbohydr Polym 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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29
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Applications of Liquid Crystalline Elastomers. LIQUID CRYSTAL ELASTOMERS: MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/12_2011_164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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30
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Palffy-Muhoray P. Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Light. LIQUID CRYSTAL ELASTOMERS: MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/12_2011_165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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31
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Khazimullin M, Müller T, Messlinger S, Rehberg I, Schöpf W, Krekhov A, Pettau R, Kreger K, Schmidt HW. Gel formation in a mixture of a block copolymer and a nematic liquid crystal. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2011; 84:021710. [PMID: 21929007 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.84.021710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The viscoelastic properties of a binary mixture of a mesogenic side-chain block copolymer in a low molecular weight nematic liquid crystal are studied for mass concentrations ranging from the diluted regime up to a liquid crystalline gel state at about 3%. In the gel state, the system does not flow, exhibits a polydomain structure on a microscopic level, and strongly scatters light. Below the gelation point, the system is homogeneous and behaves like a usual nematic, so the continuum theory of liquid crystals can be applied for interpreting the experimental data. Using the dynamic Fréedericksz transition technique, the dependence of the splay elastic constant and the rotational viscosity on the polymer concentration have been obtained. Comparing the dynamic behavior of block copolymer solutions with the respective homopolymer solutions reveals that, above a mass concentration of 1%, self-assembling of the block copolymer chain segments in clusters occurred, resulting in a gel state at higher concentrations. The effective cluster size is estimated as a function of the concentration, and a scaling-law behavior near the sol-gel transition is confirmed. This technique may serve as an alternative method for determining the gelation point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Khazimullin
- Experimentalphysik V, Universität Bayreuth, DE-95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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32
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33
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Zhang J, Su J, Guo H. An Atomistic Simulation for 4-Cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl and Its Homologue with a Reoptimized Force Field. J Phys Chem B 2011; 115:2214-27. [DOI: 10.1021/jp111408n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jiaye Su
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Hongxia Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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34
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Wang R, Wang ZG. Theory of Side-Chain Liquid Crystal Polymers: Bulk Behavior and Chain Conformation. Macromolecules 2010. [DOI: 10.1021/ma101805d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91106, United States
| | - Zhen-Gang Wang
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91106, United States
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35
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Electric‐Field‐Induced Reversible Viscosity Change in a Columnar Liquid Crystal. Chemphyschem 2010; 11:3596-8. [DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201000587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Ohm C, Brehmer M, Zentel R. Liquid crystalline elastomers as actuators and sensors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2010; 22:3366-87. [PMID: 20512812 DOI: 10.1002/adma.200904059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 556] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This review collects recent developments in the field of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) with an emphasis on their use for actuator and sensor applications. Several synthetic pathways leading to crosslinked liquid crystalline polymers are discussed and how these materials can be oriented into liquid crystalline monodomains are described. By comparing the actuating properties of different systems, general structure-property relationships for LCEs are obtained. In the final section, how these materials can be turned into usable devices using different interdisciplinary techniques are described.
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38
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Verduzco R, Luchette P, Hong SH, Harden J, DiMasi E, Palffy-Muhoray P, Kilbey II SM, Sprunt S, Gleeson JT, Jákli A. Bent-core liquid crystal elastomers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1039/c0jm01920h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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39
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Gupta JK, Abbott NL. Principles for manipulation of the lateral organization of aqueous-soluble surface-active molecules at the liquid crystal-aqueous interface. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2009; 25:2026-2033. [PMID: 19140731 PMCID: PMC3245551 DOI: 10.1021/la803475c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We report an investigation of the lateral organization of water-soluble, surface-active molecules within monolayers formed spontaneously at interfaces between aqueous phases and immiscible, micrometer-thick films of nematic liquid crystals (LCs; 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl and TL205, a mixture of cyclohexanefluorinated biphenyls and fluorinated terphenyls). Using both anionic (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and cationic (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide) surfactants, we demonstrate that the nematic order of the LCs can direct monolayers of surfactant in dynamic equilibria with bulk aqueous solutions to phase separate and assume lateral organizations at the interfaces of the LCs that are not seen in the absence of the nematic order. The lateral organization of the surfactants is readily evidenced by the patterned orientations assumed by the LCs and can be manipulated reversibly by changes in the bulk concentrations of the surfactants. Experimental observations of the effects of bulk surfactant concentration, thickness of the film of LC, nematic order, and aqueous electrolyte concentration are placed within the framework of a simple thermodynamic model. The model incorporates the dynamic equilibration of surfactant between the bulk and interface as well as the coupling between the elasticity of nematic LCs and the lateral organization of the water-soluble surfactants within the monolayers. Qualitative agreement is found between the model predictions and experimental observations, thus supporting our conclusion that LCs offer the basis of general and facile methods to direct the lateral organization of interfacial molecular assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicholas L. Abbott
- Correspondence should be addressed to Nicholas L. Abbott (, Fax: 1+608-262-5434)
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40
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Scruggs NR, Verduzco R, Uhrig D, Khan W, Park SY, Lal J, Kornfield JA. Self-Assembly of Coil/Liquid-Crystalline Diblock Copolymers in a Liquid Crystal Solvent. Macromolecules 2008. [DOI: 10.1021/ma801598y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neal R. Scruggs
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Rafael Verduzco
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - David Uhrig
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Waliullah Khan
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Soo-Young Park
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Jyotsana Lal
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Julia A. Kornfield
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 California Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91125, Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, One Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, Department of Polymer Science, Kyungpook National University, 1370 Sangyuk-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu 702-701, Korea, and Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439
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Gupta JK, Tjipto E, Zelikin AN, Caruso F, Abbott NL. Characterization of the growth of polyelectrolyte multilayers formed at interfaces between aqueous phases and thermotropic liquid crystals. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2008; 24:5534-5542. [PMID: 18419143 DOI: 10.1021/la800013f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) formed at interfaces between aqueous solutions and thermotropic (water-immiscible) liquid crystals (LCs) offer the basis of a new method to tailor the nanometer-scale structure and chemical functionality of these interfaces. Toward this end, we report a study that compares the growth of PEMs formed at mobile and deformable interfaces defined by LCs relative to growth observed at model (rigid) solid surfaces. Experiments aimed at determining if polyelectrolytes such as poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) can partition from the aqueous phase into the bulk of the LC yielded no evidence of such partitioning. Whereas measurements of the growth of PEMs formed from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and PSS at the aqueous-LC interface revealed growth characteristics similar to those measured at both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interfaces of solids, the growth of PEMs from PAH and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) at the aqueous-LC interface was found to differ substantially from the solids investigated: (i) the linear growth of PEMs of PAH/PAA that was measured at the aqueous-LC interface under conditions that did not lead to the growth of PEMs at the interface of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-treated glass (a hydrophobic solid surface), and (ii) in comparison to the growth of PEMs of PAH/PAA at the surface of glass (a hydrophilic charged surface), a higher rate of growth was observed at the aqueous-LC interface. The finding that the growth rate of PEMs of PAH/PAA at aqueous-LC interfaces is greater than on solid surfaces is supported by additional measurements of growth as a function of pH. Finally, the pH-triggered reorganization of PAH/PAA PEMs supported at the aqueous-LC interface led to changes in the order and optical properties of the LC. These data are discussed in light of the nature of aqueous-LC interfaces, including the mobility and deformability of the interface and recent measurements of the zeta-potentials of aqueous-LC interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal K Gupta
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin- Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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43
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Gupta JK, Meli MV, Teren S, Abbott NL. Elastic energy-driven phase separation of phospholipid monolayers at the nematic liquid-crystal-aqueous interface. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2008; 100:048301. [PMID: 18352339 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.100.048301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2007] [Revised: 10/08/2007] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Experimental measurements and a thermodynamic model reveal that nematic elasticity can induce lateral phase separation of amphiphilic molecules assembled at interfaces between thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) and immiscible aqueous phases. The morphologies of the phase-separated domains of amphiphiles induced by nematic elasticity are shown to be strongly dependent on the nature of the deformation of the LC. This study provides important insight into the physics that controls the ordering of molecules at interfaces of soft anisotropic materials, and identifies a new mechanism of phase separation at these interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jugal K Gupta
- Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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44
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Xia Y, Verduzco R, Grubbs RH, Kornfield JA. Well-Defined Liquid Crystal Gels from Telechelic Polymers. J Am Chem Soc 2008; 130:1735-40. [DOI: 10.1021/ja077192j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xia
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Rafael Verduzco
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Robert H. Grubbs
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Julia A. Kornfield
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
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Müller M, Schöpf W, Rehberg I, Timme A, Lattermann G. Fréedericksz transition in a thermoreversible nematic gel. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2007; 76:061701. [PMID: 18233855 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.76.061701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
A thermoreversible (physical) gel of a nematic liquid crystal in its planar configuration is investigated. The transition temperatures of the gel are thermally and rheologically determined. The temperature for the nematic-isotropic transition is higher than that for the gel-sol transition, allowing the network to grow in the oriented nematic phase. The electrical Fréedericksz transition of the gel is investigated by using both an optical and an electrical detection method. The transition can be adjusted within a large voltage range by selecting the temperature of the sample. This behavior is determined by the thermal properties of the thermoreversible gel network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Müller
- Experimentalphysik V, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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46
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Verduzco R, Scruggs NR, Sprunt S, Palffy-Muhoray P, Kornfield JA. Director dynamics in liquid-crystal physical gels. SOFT MATTER 2007; 3:993-1002. [PMID: 32900049 DOI: 10.1039/b700871f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nematic liquid-crystal (LC) elastomers and gels have a rubbery polymer network coupled to the nematic director. While LC elastomers show a single, non-hydrodynamic relaxation mode, dynamic light-scattering studies of self-assembled liquid-crystal gels reveal orientational fluctuations that relax over a broad time scale. At short times, the relaxation dynamics exhibit hydrodynamic behavior. In contrast, the relaxation dynamics at long times are non-hydrodynamic, highly anisotropic, and increase in amplitude at small scattering angles. We argue that the slower dynamics arise from coupling between the director and the physically associated network, which prevents director orientational fluctuations from decaying completely at short times. At long enough times the network restructures, allowing the orientational fluctuations to fully decay. Director dynamics in the self-assembled gels are thus quite distinct from those observed in LC elastomers in two respects: they display soft orientational fluctuations at short times, and they exhibit at least two qualitatively distinct relaxation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Verduzco
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Neal R Scruggs
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, California, USA.
| | - Samuel Sprunt
- Department of Physics, Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
| | | | - Julia A Kornfield
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Blvd., Pasadena, California, USA.
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47
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Urayama
- Department of Materials Chemistry, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
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48
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Seitz ME, Burghardt WR, Faber KT, Shull KR. Self-Assembly and Stress Relaxation in Acrylic Triblock Copolymer Gels. Macromolecules 2007. [DOI: 10.1021/ma061993+] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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49
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Senyuk BI, Smalyukh II, Lavrentovich OD. Undulations of lamellar liquid crystals in cells with finite surface anchoring near and well above the threshold. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2006; 74:011712. [PMID: 16907116 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.74.011712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We study the undulations instability, also known as the Helfrich-Hurault or layers buckling effect, in a cholesteric liquid crystal confined between two parallel plates and caused by an electric field applied along the normal to layers. The cholesteric pitch is much smaller than the cell thickness but sufficiently large for optical study. The three-dimensional patterns of the undulating layers in the bulk and at the surfaces of the cells are determined by fluorescence confocal polarizing microscopy. We demonstrate that the finite surface anchoring at the bounding plates plays a crucial role in the system behavior both near and well above the undulations threshold. The displacement of the layers immediately above the undulation threshold is much larger than the value expected from the theories that assume an infinitely strong surface anchoring. We describe the experimentally observed features by taking into account the finite surface anchoring at the bounding plates and using Lubensky-de Gennes coarse-grained elastic theory of cholesteric liquid crystals. Fitting the data allows us to determine the polar anchoring coefficient Wp and shows that Wp varies strongly with the type of substrates. As the applied field increases well above the threshold value Ec, the layers profile changes from sinusoidal to the sawtooth one. The periodicity of distortions increases through propagation of edge dislocations in the square lattice of the undulations pattern. At E approximately 1.9Ec a phenomenon is observed: the two-dimensional square lattice of undulations transforms into the one-dimensional periodic stripes. The stripes are formed by two sublattices of defect walls of parabolic shape. The main reason for the structure is again the finite surface anchoring, as the superposition of parabolic walls allows the layers to combine a significant tilt in the bulk of the cell with practically unperturbed orientation of layers near the bounding plates.
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Affiliation(s)
- B I Senyuk
- Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA
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50
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Scruggs NR, Kornfield JA, Lal J. Using the “Switchable” Quality of Liquid Crystal Solvents To Mediate Segregation between Coil and Liquid Crystalline Polymers. Macromolecules 2006. [DOI: 10.1021/ma052414o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neal R. Scruggs
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Julia A. Kornfield
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Jyotsana Lal
- Intense Pulsed Neutron Source, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439
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