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Zhao FX, Wang MH, Huang ZY, Zhu MH, Chen C, Pan QH, Yu B, Wang YT, Guo X, Qian YJ, Zhang LW, Qiu XJ, Sheng SZ, He Z, Wang JL, Yu SH. Bio-inspired Mechanically Responsive Smart Windows for Visible and Near-Infrared Multiwavelength Spectral Modulation. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2408192. [PMID: 39155803 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202408192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Mechanochromic light control technology that can dynamically regulate solar irradiation is recognized as one of the leading candidates for energy-saving windows. However, the lack of spectrally selective modulation ability still hinders its application for different scenarios or individual needs. Here, inspired by the generation of structure color and color change of living organisms, a simple layer-by-layer assembly approach toward large-area fabricating mechanically responsive film for visible and near-infrared multiwavelength spectral modulation smart windows is reported here. The assembled SiO2 nanoparticles and W18O49 nanowires enable the film with an optical modulation rate of up to 42.4% at the wavelength of 550 nm and 18.4% for the near-infrared region, separately, and the typical composite film under 50% stretching shows ≈41.6% modulation rate at the wavelength of 550 nm with NIR modulation rate less than 2.7%. More importantly, the introduction of the multilayer assembly structure not only optimizes the film's optical modulation but also enables the film with high stability during 100 000 stretching cycles. A cooling effect of 21.3 and 6.9 °C for the blackbody and air inside a model house in the real environmental application is achieved. This approach provides theoretical and technical support for the new mechanochromic energy-saving windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Xing Zhao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Mei-Hua Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zong-Ying Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Meng-Han Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qian-Hao Pan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Bang Yu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yu-Tao Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xin Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yi-Jian Qian
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Li-Wen Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Qiu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Si-Zhe Sheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhen He
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jin-Long Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Shu-Hong Yu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Sustainable Biomimetic Materials and Green Energy, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Innovative Materials, Guangming Advanced Research Institute, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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2
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Zhang J, Zhang Y, Yang J, Wang X. Beyond Color Boundaries: Pioneering Developments in Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Photonic Actuators. MICROMACHINES 2024; 15:808. [PMID: 38930778 PMCID: PMC11205596 DOI: 10.3390/mi15060808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Creatures in nature make extensive use of structural color adaptive camouflage to survive. Cholesteric liquid crystals, with nanostructures similar to those of natural organisms, can be combined with actuators to produce bright structural colors in response to a wide range of stimuli. Structural colors modulated by nano-helical structures can continuously and selectively reflect specific wavelengths of light, breaking the limit of colors recognizable by the human eye. In this review, the current state of research on cholesteric liquid crystal photonic actuators and their technological applications is presented. First, the basic concepts of cholesteric liquid crystals and their nanostructural modulation are outlined. Then, the cholesteric liquid crystal photonic actuators responding to different stimuli (mechanical, thermal, electrical, light, humidity, magnetic, pneumatic) are presented. This review describes the practical applications of cholesteric liquid crystal photonic actuators and summarizes the prospects for the development of these advanced structures as well as the challenges and their promising applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Precision Optoelectronic Measurement Instrument and Technology, School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (X.W.)
- Yangtze Delta Region Academy of Beijing Institute of Technology, Jiaxing 314001, China
| | - Yexiaotong Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Precision Optoelectronic Measurement Instrument and Technology, School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (X.W.)
| | - Jiaxing Yang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Precision Optoelectronic Measurement Instrument and Technology, School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (X.W.)
| | - Xinye Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Precision Optoelectronic Measurement Instrument and Technology, School of Optics and Photonics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (Y.Z.); (J.Y.); (X.W.)
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3
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Liu M, Yang S. Exploiting Molecular Orders at the Interface of Microdroplets for Intelligent Materials. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:739-750. [PMID: 38403956 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.3c00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusThe intrinsic molecular order of liquid crystals (LCs) and liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) is the origin of their stimuli-responsive properties. The programmable responsiveness and functionality, such as shape morphing and color change under external stimuli, are the key features that attract interest in designing LC- and LCE-based intelligent material platforms. Methods such as mechanical stretching and shearing, surface alignment, and field-assisted alignment have been exploited to program the order of LC molecules for the desired responsiveness. However, the huge size mismatch between the nanometer-sized LC mesogens and the targeted macroscopic objects calls for questions about how to delicately control molecular order for desired performance. Microparticles that can be synthesized with intrinsic molecular order precisely controlled to micrometer size can be used as building blocks for bulk materials, thus offering opportunities to bridge the gap and transcend molecular orders across scales. By taking advantage of the interfacial anchoring effects, we can control and engineer the molecular orders inside the microdroplets, allowing for the realization of various responsive behaviors. Furthermore, designer LC microparticles with multiple responsiveness can be assembled and confined within a matrix, opening a new pathway to engineering LC-enabled intelligent materials.In this Account, we present our recent work on exploiting the molecular order inside microdroplets for the construction of intelligent materials. We briefly introduce the typical chemicals used in the synthesis and the methods developed to control LC molecular alignment within a microdroplets. We then present examples of microparticles synthesized from microdroplets that can transform into complex morphologies upon cooling from the isotropic to nematic phase or due to phase separation within the droplets coupled with the segregation of LC oligomers (LCOs) with polydisperse chain lengths. Furthermore, we show the synthesis of elliptical LCE microparticles and exploit their thermal and magnetic responsiveness to program shape-morphing behaviors and microarrays with switchable optical polarization. By mixing magnetic nanoparticles in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) and silicone oils, we created Janus microparticles capable of color switching for camouflage and information encryption. Moreover, we can engineer complex molecular orders in LCE microparticles by mixing different surfactants, yielding microparticles of diverse anisotropic, temperature-responsive shapes after photopolymerization and extraction of the template LC molecules with different solvents. We conclude the Account with an outlook on the design of intelligent material systems via the design of unprecedented molecular ordering within the microparticles and their coupling with bulk materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Shu Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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Ma X, Han Y, Zhang YS, Geng Y, Majumdar A, Lagerwall JPF. Tunable templating of photonic microparticles via liquid crystal order-guided adsorption of amphiphilic polymers in emulsions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1404. [PMID: 38360960 PMCID: PMC10869789 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45674-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple emulsions are usually stabilized by amphiphilic molecules that combine the chemical characteristics of the different phases in contact. When one phase is a liquid crystal (LC), the choice of stabilizer also determines its configuration, but conventional wisdom assumes that the orientational order of the LC has no impact on the stabilizer. Here we show that, for the case of amphiphilic polymer stabilizers, this impact can be considerable. The mode of interaction between stabilizer and LC changes if the latter is heated close to its isotropic state, initiating a feedback loop that reverberates on the LC in form of a complete structural rearrangement. We utilize this phenomenon to dynamically tune the configuration of cholesteric LC shells from one with radial helix and spherically symmetric Bragg diffraction to a focal conic domain configuration with highly complex optics. Moreover, we template photonic microparticles from the LC shells by photopolymerizing them into solids, retaining any selected LC-derived structure. Our study places LC emulsions in a new light, calling for a reevaluation of the behavior of stabilizer molecules in contact with long-range ordered phases, while also enabling highly interesting photonic elements with application opportunities across vast fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Ma
- Experimental Soft Matter Physics group, Department of Physics & Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 1511, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Yucen Han
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Yan-Song Zhang
- Experimental Soft Matter Physics group, Department of Physics & Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 1511, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Yong Geng
- Experimental Soft Matter Physics group, Department of Physics & Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 1511, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Apala Majumdar
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jan P F Lagerwall
- Experimental Soft Matter Physics group, Department of Physics & Materials Science, University of Luxembourg, 1511, Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
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5
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Kim YR, Wi NR, Park SY. Complex-Shape Solid-State Photonic Droplets Prepared via Phase Separation and Microfluidics. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:18605-18613. [PMID: 38078414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Complex-shape solid-state cholesteric liquid crystal (CLCsolid) droplets were prepared via solvent removal, phase separation, and photopolymerization of uniformly sized reactive CLC (rCLC)/fluorocarbon oil (FCO)/dichloromethane (solvent) droplets produced via a microfluidic method. The interfacial energies between rCLC and FCO, rCLC and water, and FCO and water of a rCLC/FCO droplet in an aqueous solution were precisely controlled through the specified surfactants. The shape of the rCLC/FCO droplet was strongly dependent on the balances among these interfacial energies, enabling the preparation of complex-shape droplets through the controlled concentration of the used surfactants. The complex-shape rCLC/FCO droplets showed photonic patterns consisting of a central reflection from a convex surface, cross-communication from a convex surface between adjacent particles, a photonic reflection band from the outer upward-facing concave surface, and total internal reflection from the inner upward-facing surface. Complex-shape CLCsolid particles obtained after photopolymerization and extraction of a nonreactive chiral dopant and FCO showed photonic patterns similar to those before photopolymerization without much deterioration of the photonic structure. These complex patterns make CLCsolid and rCLC/FCO droplets promising anticounterfeiting materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye-Ri Kim
- School of Applied Chemical Engineering, Polymeric Nano Materials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Na-Ra Wi
- School of Applied Chemical Engineering, Polymeric Nano Materials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Young Park
- School of Applied Chemical Engineering, Polymeric Nano Materials Laboratory, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
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6
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Lü T, Xu M, Chen J, Qi D, Zhao H. Construction of Steady Amorphous Colloidal Array Patterns via Infiltration-Driven Assembly of Core-Shell Microparticles followed by Short-Time Heating. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:15808-15816. [PMID: 37885070 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c02514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Although core-shell microparticles with a hard core and soft shell are often used to fabricate photonic crystal films, they are rarely applied to construct steady amorphous colloidal array (ACA) patterns. In this work, a series of monodisperse core-shell microparticles with a polystyrene (PS) core and poly(methyl methacrylate-butyl acrylate) (P(MMA-BA)) shell have been successfully synthesized, and the glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the shell layer have been well regulated. The synthesized core-shell microparticles were then used to fabricate ACA patterns via a convenient infiltration-driven assembly method. The results showed that the Tg of the shell significantly affected the microstructure of the amorphous colloidal arrays (ACAs). During the assembly process, the microparticles quickly contacted each other and the lower-Tg shells could merge with each other to form a continuous film. In this situation, the PS core was embedded and ranked in the P(MMA-BA) film, and both the refractive index contrast and order degree of the colloidal array became relatively low, resulting in a poor structural color. However, when the Tg of the shell layer was moderately high, a short-range ordered array was prepared via infiltration-driven assembly, thereby displaying a bright structural color. More importantly, the shell layers could merge with each other to some extent after short-time heating, resulting in fine mechanical stability. In brief, this study provides a facile and environmental approach to construct steady ACA patterns, which is promising in printing and painting industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Lü
- Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
- Key Laboratory of Novel Materials for Sensor of Zhejiang Province, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Mengwei Xu
- Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Jujun Chen
- Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Dongming Qi
- Key Laboratory of Green Cleaning Technology & Detergent of Zhejiang Province, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongting Zhao
- Institute of Environmental Materials and Applications, College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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Xie J, Wei S, Lu W, Wu S, Zhang Y, Wang R, Zhu N, Chen T. Environment-Interactive Programmable Deformation of Electronically Innervated Synergistic Fluorescence-Color/Shape Changeable Hydrogel Actuators. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304204. [PMID: 37496099 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Utilization of life-like hydrogels to replicate synergistic shape/color changeable behaviors of living organisms has been long envisaged to produce robust functional integrated soft actuators/robots. However, it remains challenging to construct such hydrogel systems with integrated functionality of remote, localized and environment-interactive control over synergistic discoloration/actuation. Herein, inspired by the evolution-optimized bioelectricity stimulus and multilayer structure of natural reptile skins, electronically innervated fluorescence-color switchable hydrogel actuating systems with bio-inspired multilayer structure comprising of responsive fluorescent hydrogel sheet and conductive Graphene/PDMS film with electrothermal effect is presented. Such rational structure enables remote control over synergistic fluorescence-color and shape changes of the systems via the cascading "electrical trigger-Joule heat generation-hydrogel shrinkage" mechanism. Consequently, local/sequential control of discoloration/actuation are achieved due to the highly controllable electrical stimulus in terms of amplitude and circuit design. Furthermore, by joint use with acoustic sensors, soft chameleon robots with unprecedented environment-interactive adaptation are demonstrated, which can intelligently sense environment signals to adjust their color/shape-changeable behaviors. This work opens previously unidentified avenues for functional integrated soft actuators/robots and will inspire life-like intelligent systems for versatile uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junni Xie
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Shuxin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Wei Lu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Shuangshuang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ruijia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Ning Zhu
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211800, P. R. China
| | - Tao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, P. R. China
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
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8
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Zhang M, Guo Q, Li Z, Zhou Y, Zhao S, Tong Z, Wang Y, Li G, Jin S, Zhu M, Zhuang T, Yu SH. Processable circularly polarized luminescence material enables flexible stereoscopic 3D imaging. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi9944. [PMID: 37878702 PMCID: PMC10599622 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi9944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Endowing three-dimensional (3D) displays with flexibility drives innovation in the next-generation wearable and smart electronic technology. Printing circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials on stretchable panels gives the chance to build desired flexible stereoscopic displays: CPL provides unusual optical rotation characteristics to achieve the considerable contrast ratio and wide viewing angle. However, the lack of printable, intense circularly polarized optical materials suitable for flexible processing hinders the implementation of flexible 3D devices. Here, we report a controllable and macroscopic production of printable CPL-active photonic paints using a designed confining helical co-assembly strategy, achieving a maximum luminescence dissymmetry factor (glum) value of 1.6. We print customized graphics and meter-long luminous coatings with these paints on a range of substates such as polypropylene, cotton fabric, and polyester fabric. We then demonstrate a flexible textile 3D display panel with two printed sets of pixel arrays based on the orthogonal CPL emission, which lays an efficient framework for future intelligent displays and clothing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Qi Guo
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zeyi Li
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yajie Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhi Tong
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yaxin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Guangen Li
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Taotao Zhuang
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shu-Hong Yu
- Department of Chemistry, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Institute of Biomimetic Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials and Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Institute of Innovative Materials (I2M), Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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9
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Sun X, Chen S, Qu B, Wang R, Zheng Y, Liu X, Li W, Gao J, Chen Q, Zhuo D. Light-oriented 3D printing of liquid crystal/photocurable resins and in-situ enhancement of mechanical performance. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6586. [PMID: 37852967 PMCID: PMC10584836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42369-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Additive manufacturing technology has significantly impacted contemporary industries due to its ability to generate intricate computer-designed geometries. However, 3D-printed polymer parts often possess limited application potential, primarily because of their weak mechanical attributes. To overcome this drawback, this study formulates liquid crystal/photocurable resins suitable for the stereolithography technique by integrating 4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl with a photosensitive acrylic resin. This study demonstrates that stereolithography facilitates the precise modulation of the existing liquid crystal morphology within the resin. Furthermore, the orientation of the liquid crystal governs the oriented polymerization of monomers or prepolymers bearing acrylate groups. The products of this 3D printing approach manifest anisotropic behavior. Remarkably, when utilizing liquid crystal/photocurable resins, the resulting 3D-printed objects are approximately twice as robust as those created using commercial resins in terms of their tensile, flexural, and impact properties. This pioneering approach holds promise for realizing autonomously designed structures that remain elusive with present additive manufacturing techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Sun
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350007, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Shaoyun Chen
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350007, P. R. China.
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
| | - Bo Qu
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Yanyu Zheng
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoying Liu
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Wenjie Li
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Jianhong Gao
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China
| | - Qinhui Chen
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350007, P. R. China.
| | - Dongxian Zhuo
- College of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350007, P. R. China.
- Fujian University Engineering Research Center of Polymer Functional Coating based Graphene, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of New Materials for Light Textile and Chemical Industry, Quanzhou, Fujian, 362000, P. R. China.
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10
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Concellón A. Liquid Crystal Emulsions: A Versatile Platform for Photonics, Sensing, and Active Matter. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023:e202308857. [PMID: 37694542 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202308857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of liquid crystals (LCs) is a fascinating method for controlling the organization of discrete molecules into nanostructured functional materials. Although LCs are traditionally processed in thin films, their confinement within micrometre-sized droplets has recently revealed new properties and functions, paving the way for next-generation soft responsive materials. These recent findings have unlocked a wealth of unprecedented applications in photonics (e.g. reflectors, lasing materials), sensing (e.g. biomolecule and pathogen detection), soft robotics (e.g. micropumps, artificial muscles), and beyond. This Minireview focuses on recent developments in LC emulsion designs and highlights a variety of novel potential applications. Perspectives on the opportunities and new directions for implementing LC emulsions in future innovative technologies are also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Concellón
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
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11
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Ye Y, Guo L, Zhong T. A Review of Developments in Polymer Stabilized Liquid Crystals. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:2962. [PMID: 37447607 DOI: 10.3390/polym15132962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs) are multi-functional materials consisting of polymer networks in a continuous phase of liquid crystals (LCs), of which polymer networks provide anchoring energy to align the LCs. A number of improvements are detailed, including polymer-stabilized nematic liquid crystals (PSNLCs), polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs), polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals (PSBPLCs), polymer-stabilized smectic liquid crystals (PSSLCs), polymer-stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystals (PSFLCs), and polymer-stabilized antiferroelectric liquid crystals (PSAFLCs) in this review. Polymer stabilization has achieved multiple functionalities for LCs; in smart windows, a sufficiently strong electric field allows the LCs to reorient and enables switching from a scattering (transparent) state to a transparent (scattering) state. For broadband reflectors, the reflection bandwidth of LCs is manually tuned by electric fields, light, magnetic fields, or temperature. PSBPLCs open a new way for next-generation displays, spatial light modulators, sensors, lasers, lenses, and photonics applications. Polymer networks in PSFLCs or PSAFLCs enhance their grayscale memories utilized in flexible displays and energy-saving smart cards. At the end, the remaining challenges and research opportunities of PSLCs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Ye
- Nanjing M&C Electronic New Material Co., Ltd., Nanjing 211300, China
| | - Li Guo
- Shanghai Materials Electronics Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201109, China
| | - Tingjun Zhong
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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12
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Lee J, Kim CH. Advanced Algorithm for Reliable Quantification of the Geometry and Printability of Printed Patterns. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:nano13101597. [PMID: 37242014 DOI: 10.3390/nano13101597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
In nanoparticle-based printed electronic devices, the printability of the patterns constituting the device are crucial factors. Although many studies have investigated the printability of patterns, only a few have analyzed and established international standards for measuring the dimensions and printability of shape patterns. This study introduces an advanced algorithm for accurate measurement of the geometry and printability of shape patterns to establish an international standard for pattern dimensions and printability. The algorithm involves three core concepts: extraction of edges of printed patterns and identification of pixel positions, identification of reference edges via the best-fitting of the shape pattern, and calculation of different pixel positions of edges related to reference edges. This method enables the measurement of the pattern geometry and printability, including edge waviness and widening, while considering all pixels comprising the edges of the patterns. The study results revealed that the rectangle and circle patterns exhibited an average widening of 3.55% and a maximum deviation of 1.58%, based on an average of 1662 data points. This indicates that the algorithm has potential applications in real-time pattern quality evaluation, process optimization using statistical or AI-based methods, and foundation of International Electrotechnical Commission standards for shape patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongsu Lee
- Department of Advanced Components and Materials Engineering, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Chung Hwan Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Education, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
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13
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Li L, Wen ZB, Li D, Xu ZY, Shi LY, Yang KK, Wang YZ. Fabricating Freestanding, Broadband Reflective Cholesteric Liquid-Crystal Networks via Topological Tailoring of the Sm-Ch Phase Transition. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:21425-21434. [PMID: 37079877 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c00931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Numerous biological systems in nature provide much inspiration for humanity to master diverse coloration strategies for creating stimuli-responsive materials and display devices, such as to access gorgeous structural colors from well-defined photonic structures. Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) are a fascinating genre of photonic materials displaying iridescent colors responsive to circumstance changes; however, it is still a big challenge to design materials with broadband color variation as well as good flexibility and freestanding capacity. Herein, we report a feasible and flexible strategy to fabricate cholesteric liquid-crystal networks (CLCNs) with precise colors across the entire visible spectrum through molecular structure tailoring and topology engineering and demonstrate their application as smart displays and rewritable photonic paper. Influences of chiral and achiral LC monomers on the thermochromic behaviors of CLC precursors as well as on the topology of the polymerized CLCNs are systematically investigated, demonstrating that the monoacrylate achiral LC facilitated the formation of a smectic phase-chiral phase (Sm-Ch) pretransitional phase in the CLC mixture and improved the flexibility of the photopolymerized CLCNs. High-resolution multicolor patterns in one CLCN film are generated through photomask polymerization. In addition, the freestanding CLCN films show perceivable mechanochromic behaviors and repeated erasing-rewriting performances. This work opens avenues toward the realization of pixelated colorful patterns and rewritable CLCN films promising in technology fields ranging from information storage and smart camouflage to anti-counterfeiting and smart display.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Li
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Wen
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Electronic Materials, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Dong Li
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhi-Yuan Xu
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ling-Ying Shi
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Ke-Ke Yang
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Yu-Zhong Wang
- The Collaborative Innovation Center for Eco-Friendly and Fire-Safety Polymeric Materials (MoE), National Engineering Laboratory of Eco-Friendly Polymeric Materials (Sichuan), College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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14
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Yang C, Xiao Y, Hu L, Chen J, Zhao CX, Zhao P, Ruan J, Wu Z, Yu H, Weitz DA, Chen D. Stimuli-Triggered Multishape, Multimode, and Multistep Deformations Designed by Microfluidic 3D Droplet Printing. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2207073. [PMID: 36642808 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Elastomers generally possess low Young's modulus and high failure strain, which are widely used in soft robots and intelligent actuators. However, elastomers generally lack diverse functionalities, such as stimulated shape morphing, and a general strategy to implement these functionalities into elastomers is still challenging. Here, a microfluidic 3D droplet printing platform is developed to design composite elastomers architected with arrays of functional droplets. Functional droplets with controlled size, composition, position, and pattern are designed and implemented in the composite elastomers, imparting functional performances to the systems. The composited elastomers are sensitive to stimuli, such as solvent, temperature, and light, and are able to demonstrate multishape (bow- and S-shaped), multimode (gradual and sudden), and multistep (one- and two-step) deformations. Based on the unique properties of droplet-embedded composite elastomers, a variety of stimuli-responsive systems are developed, including designable numbers, biomimetic flowers, and soft robots, and a series of functional performances are achieved, presenting a facile platform to impart diverse functionalities into composite elastomers by microfluidic 3D droplet printing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjing Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, P. R. China
- College of Energy Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Yao Xiao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Lingjie Hu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, P. R. China
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Jian Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Ziliang Wu
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Haifeng Yu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310027, P. R. China
- College of Energy Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Clean Energy Utilization, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, P. R. China
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15
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Liu M, Fu J, Yang S, Wang Y, Jin L, Nah SH, Gao Y, Ning Y, Murray CB, Yang S. Janus Microdroplets with Tunable Self-Recoverable and Switchable Reflective Structural Colors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2207985. [PMID: 36341517 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202207985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microdroplets made from chiral liquid crystals (CLCs) can display reflective structural colors. However, the small area of reflection and their isotropic shape limit their performance. Here, Janus microdroplets are synthesized through phase separation between CLCs and silicone oil. The as-synthesized Janus microdroplets show primary structural colors with ≈14 times larger area compared to their spherical counterparts at a specific orientation; the orientation and thus the colored/transparent states can be switched by applying a magnetic field. The color of the Janus microdroplets can be tuned ranging from red to violet by varying the concentration of the chiral dopant in the CLC phase. Due to the density difference between the two phases, the Janus microdroplets prefer to orientate the silicone oil side up vertically, enabling the self-recoverable structural color after distortion. The Janus microdroplets can be dispersed in aqueous media to track the configuration and speed of magnetic objects. They can also be patterned as multiplexed labels for data encryption. The magnetic field-responsive Janus CLC microdroplets presented here offer new insights to generate and switch reflective colors with high color saturation. It also paves the way for broader applications of CLCs, including anti-counterfeiting, data encryption, display, and untethered speed sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhu Liu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jiemin Fu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shengsong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S 34th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lishuai Jin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - So Hee Nah
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yuchong Gao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yifan Ning
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S 34th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christopher B Murray
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S 34th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shu Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 3231 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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16
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Guo Q, Zhang M, Tong Z, Zhao S, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Jin S, Zhang J, Yao HB, Zhu M, Zhuang T. Multimodal-Responsive Circularly Polarized Luminescence Security Materials. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:4246-4253. [PMID: 36724236 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c13108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Nations, industries, and aspects of everyday life have undergone forgery and counterfeiting ever since the emergence of commercialization. Securing documents and products with anticounterfeit additives shows promise for authentication, allowing one to combat ever-increasing global counterfeiting. One most-used effective encryption strategy is to combine with optical-security markers on the required protection objects; however, state-of-the-art labels still suffer from imitation due to their poor complexity and easy forecasting, as a result of deterministic production. Developing advanced anticounterfeiting tags with unusual optical characters and further incorporating complex security features are desired to achieve multimodal, unbreakable authentication capacity; unfortunately, this has not yet been achieved. Here, we prepare a series of stable circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials, composed of toxicity-free, high-quality-emitting inorganic quantum dots (QDs) and liquid crystals, using a designed helical-coassembly strategy. This CPL system achieves a figure of merit (FM, assessing the performance of both luminescence dissymmetry and quantum yield) value of 0.39, fulfilling practical demands for anticounterfeiting applications. Based on these CPL structures, we produce a type of multimodal-responsive security materials (MRSMs) that exhibits six different stimuli-responsive modes, including light activation, polarization, temperature, voltage, pressure, and view angle. Thus, we show a proof-of-principle blockchain-like integrated anticounterfeiting system, allowing multimodal-responsive, interactive/changeable information encryption-decryption. We further encapsulate the obtained security materials into a fiber to expand our materials to work on flexible fabrics, that is, building an intelligent textile with a color-adaptable function along with environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Guo
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Mingjiang Zhang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Zhi Tong
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Shanshan Zhao
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Yajie Zhou
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Yaxin Wang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Shan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology and Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Hong-Bin Yao
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
| | - Manzhou Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Structure and Functional Regulation of Hybrid Materials, Ministry of Education, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
- Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology and Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Functionalized Materials, Department of Chemistry and Centre for Atomic Engineering of Advanced Materials, Anhui Province, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui230601, China
| | - Taotao Zhuang
- Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei230026, China
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17
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Xu Z, Liu M, Liu Y, Pan Y, Yang L, Ge D. Mechano-Optical Response Behavior of Polymer-Dispersed Cholesteric Liquid Crystals for Reversible and Highly Sensitive Force Recorders. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:3673-3679. [PMID: 36608174 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c20959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Force recording (mode, intensity, and orientation) is of great importance in medical rehabilitation, military reconnaissance, space exploration, etc. However, sensors with both reversibility and memorability are still challenging. Here, a reversible sensor based on polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC) is developed as a force recorder. Based on the microarea mechano-optical response and finite element analysis, it is confirmed that the mechanochromic response is mediated by the shear deformation of the polymer network and neighboring CLC. There is an obvious quantitative relationship between force intensity, mode, orientation, and the microarea optical response. Moreover, the sensing layer with a lower modulus or thickness is advantageous for a more sensitive device with lower starting pressure. Additionally, the excellent sensitivity and accuracy also highlight the potential applications in force analysis, path tracking, or pattern detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
- Institute of Functional Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Meng Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Yan Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Lili Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
| | - Dengteng Ge
- Institute of Functional Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai201620, China
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18
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Froyen AAF, Schenning APHJ. A multifunctional structural coloured electronic skin monitoring body motion and temperature. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:361-365. [PMID: 36625272 PMCID: PMC9846708 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01503j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional e-skins provide information on physiological and environmental parameters. However, the development and fabrication of such devices is challenging. Here, structural coloured electronic skins are presented, which are prepared via scalable methods that can simultaneously monitor the skin temperature and body motion when patched onto the human skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne A F Froyen
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Albert P H J Schenning
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
- SCNU-TUE Joint Laboratory of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), South China Normal University, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
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19
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Lim SI, Jang E, Yu D, Koo J, Kang DG, Lee KM, Godman NP, McConney ME, Kim DY, Jeong KU. When Chirophotonic Film Meets Wrinkles: Viewing Angle Independent Corrugated Photonic Crystal Paper. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2206764. [PMID: 36314392 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202206764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Light manipulation strategies of nature have fascinated humans for centuries. In particular, structural colors are of considerable interest due to their ability to control the interaction between light and matter. Here, wrinkled photonic crystal papers (PCPs) are fabricated to demonstrate the consistent reflection of colors regardless of viewing angles. The nanoscale molecular self-assembly of a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) with a microscale corrugated surface is combined. Fully polymerizable CLC paints are uniaxially coated onto a wrinkled interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) substrate. Photopolymerization of the helicoidal nanostructures results in a flexible and free-standing PCP. The facile method of fabricating the wrinkled PCPs provides a scalable route for the development of novel chirophotonic materials with precisely controlled helical pitch and curvature dimensions. The reflection notch position of the flat PCP shifts to a lower wavelength when the viewing angle increased, while the selective reflection wavelength of wrinkled PCP is remained consistent regardless of viewing angles. The optical reflection of the 1D stripe-wrinkled PCP is dependent on the wrinkle direction. PCPs with different corrugated directions can be patterned to reduce the angular-dependent optical reflection of wrinkles. Furthermore, 2D wavy-wrinkled PCP is successfully developed that exhibit directionally independent reflection of color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok-In Lim
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Jang
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongmin Yu
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Jahyeon Koo
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Gue Kang
- Functional Composite Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Wanju, 55324, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Min Lee
- US Air Force Research Laboratory Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, 45433, USA
| | - Nicholas P Godman
- US Air Force Research Laboratory Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, 45433, USA
| | - Michael E McConney
- US Air Force Research Laboratory Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, 45433, USA
| | - Dae-Yoon Kim
- Functional Composite Materials Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Wanju, 55324, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Un Jeong
- Department of Polymer-Nano Science and Technology, Department of Nano Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, 54896, Republic of Korea
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20
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Ren J, Wu Y, Han Y, Zhang S, Wu S. Noniridescent and Robust Structural-Colored Coating for Automotives Based on the Mie Scattering of ZnO Spheres. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2# Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yue Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2# Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, P. R. China
| | - Yaqun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2# Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, P. R. China
| | - Shufen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2# Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, P. R. China
| | - Suli Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 2# Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, P. R. China
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21
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Continuous resin refilling and hydrogen bond synergistically assisted 3D structural color printing. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7095. [DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34866-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract3D photonic crystals (PCs) have attracted extensive attention due to their unique optical properties. However, fabricating 3D PCs structure by 3D printing colloidal particles is limited by control of assembly under a fast-printing speed. Here, we employ continuous digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing strategy with hydrogen bonds assisted colloidal inks for fabricating well-assembled 3D PCs structures. Stable dispersion of colloidal particles inside UV-curable system induced by hydrogen bonding and suction force induced by continuous curing manner cooperatively realize the simultaneous macroscopic printing and microscopic particle assembly, which endows volumetric color property. Structural color can be well regulated by controlling the particle diameter and printing speed, through which various complex 3D structures with desired structural color distribution and optical light-guide properties are acquired. This 3D color construction approach shows great potential in customized jewelry accessories, decoration and optical device preparation, and will innovate the development of structural color.
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22
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Zhang X, Yang Y, Xue P, Valenzuela C, Chen Y, Yang X, Wang L, Feng W. Three‐Dimensional Electrochromic Soft Photonic Crystals Based on MXene‐Integrated Blue Phase Liquid Crystals for Bioinspired Visible and Infrared Camouflage. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202211030. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202211030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Yanzhao Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Pan Xue
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Cristian Valenzuela
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Yuanhao Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Xiao Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
| | - Wei Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering Tianjin University Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials Tianjin 300350 P. R. China
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23
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Zhang X, Yang Y, Xue P, Valenzuela C, Chen Y, Yang X, Wang L, Feng W. Three‐Dimensional Electrochromic Soft Photonic Crystals Based on MXene‐Integrated Blue Phase Liquid Crystals for Bioinspired Visible and Infrared Camouflage. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202211030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhang
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
| | - Yanzhao Yang
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
| | - Pan Xue
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
| | | | - Yuanhao Chen
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
| | - Xiao Yang
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
| | - Ling Wang
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University 300072 Tianjin CHINA
| | - Wei Feng
- Tianjin University Materials Science and Engineering CHINA
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24
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Zhang P, de Haan LT, Debije MG, Schenning APHJ. Liquid crystal-based structural color actuators. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2022; 11:248. [PMID: 35931672 PMCID: PMC9356073 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-00937-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Animals can modify their body shape and/or color for protection, camouflage and communication. This adaptability has inspired fabrication of actuators with structural color changes to endow soft robots with additional functionalities. Using liquid crystal-based materials for actuators with structural color changes is a promising approach. In this review, we discuss the current state of liquid crystal-based actuators with structural color changes and the potential applications of these structural color actuators in soft robotic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Laurens T de Haan
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Michael G Debije
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Albert P H J Schenning
- Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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25
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Guan Z, Wang L, Bae J. Advances in 4D printing of liquid crystalline elastomers: materials, techniques, and applications. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2022; 9:1825-1849. [PMID: 35504034 DOI: 10.1039/d2mh00232a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) are polymer networks exhibiting anisotropic liquid crystallinity while maintaining elastomeric properties. Owing to diverse polymeric forms and self-alignment molecular behaviors, LCEs have fascinated state-of-the-art efforts in various disciplines other than the traditional low-molar-mass display market. By patterning order to structures, LCEs demonstrate reversible high-speed and large-scale actuations in response to external stimuli, allowing for close integration with 4D printing and architectures of digital devices, which is scarcely observed in homogeneous soft polymer networks. In this review, we collect recent advances in 4D printing of LCEs, with emphases on synthesis and processing methods that enable microscopic changes in the molecular orientation and hence macroscopic changes in the properties of end-use objects. Promising potentials of printed complexes include fields of soft robotics, optics, and biomedical devices. Within this scope, we elucidate the relationships among external stimuli, tailorable morphologies in mesophases of liquid crystals, and programmable topological configurations of printed parts. Lastly, perspectives and potential challenges facing 4D printing of LCEs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhecun Guan
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Ling Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, P. R. China.
| | - Jinhye Bae
- Department of Nanoengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Chemical Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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26
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Zhang P, Debije MG, de Haan LT, Schenning APHJ. Pigmented Structural Color Actuators Fueled by Near-Infrared Light. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:20093-20100. [PMID: 35451302 PMCID: PMC9073939 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c03392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cuttlefish can modify their body shape and both their pigmentary and structural colors for protection. This adaptability has inspired the development of appearance-changing polymers such as structural color actuators, although in most cases, the original shape has been confined to being flat, and pigmented structural color actuators have not yet been reported. Here, we have successfully created a pigmented structural color actuator using a cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer with a lower actuation temperature where both actuation and coloration (structural and pigmental) are tunable with temperature and NIR light. The shape, structural color, and absorption of the NIR-absorbing dye pigment of the actuator all change with temperature. Light can be used to trigger local in-plane bending actuation in flat films and local shape changes in a variety of 3D-shaped objects. A cuttlefish mimic that can sense light and respond by locally changing its appearance was also made to demonstrate the potential of pigmented structural color actuators for signaling and camouflage in soft robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Stimuli-Responsive
Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering
and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Michael G. Debije
- Stimuli-Responsive
Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering
and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Laurens T. de Haan
- SCNU-TUE
Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National
Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Albert P. H. J. Schenning
- Stimuli-Responsive
Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering
and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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27
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Polymer-Dispersed Cholesteric Liquid Crystal under Homeotropic Anchoring: Electrically Induced Structures with λ1/2-Disclination. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14071454. [PMID: 35406327 PMCID: PMC9002932 DOI: 10.3390/polym14071454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Orientational structures of polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal under homeotropic anchoring and their transformations under the action of an electric field are studied. The switching of cholesteric droplets between different topological states are experimentally and theoretically demonstrated. Structures with λ+1/2-disclination are found and considered. These structures are formed during the transformation of a twisted toroidal configuration induced by a decrease in the electric field when a relative chiral parameter N0>6.3. The transformation of the initial structure with a bipolar distribution of the helix axis into a twisted toroidal configuration and then into a structure with λ+1/2-disclination is investigated in detail. The behavior of these structures under the influence of an external electric field, as well as the appearance of structures with λ−1/2-disclination, are studied. Obtained results are promising for the development of optical materials with programmable properties.
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28
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Chen L, Xiao Y, Wu Q, Yan X, Zhao P, Ruan J, Shan J, Chen D, Weitz DA, Ye F. Emulsion Designer Using Microfluidic Three-Dimensional Droplet Printing in Droplet. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2102579. [PMID: 34390183 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202102579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hierarchical emulsions are interesting for both scientific researches and practical applications. Hierarchical emulsions prepared by microfluidics require complicated device geometry and delicate control of flow rates. Here, a versatile method is developed to design hierarchical emulsions using microfluidic 3D droplet printing in droplet. The process of droplet printing in droplet mimics the dragonfly laying eggs and has advantages of easy processing and flexible design. To demonstrate the capability of the method, double emulsions and triple emulsions with tunable core number, core size, and core composition are prepared. The hierarchical emulsions are excellent templates for the developments of functional materials. Flattened crescent-moon-shaped particles are then fabricated using double emulsions printed in confined 2D space as templates. The particles are excellent delivery vehicles for 2D interfaces, which can load and transport cargos through a well-defined trajectory under external magnetic steering. Microfluidic 3D droplet printing in droplet provides a powerful platform with improved simplicity and flexibility for the design of hierarchical emulsions and functional materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, P. R. China
| | - Yao Xiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Qinglin Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoxiao Yan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Jian Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Jianzhen Shan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, P. R. China
- College of Energy Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310027, P. R. China
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Fangfu Ye
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325001, P. R. China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
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29
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Wu B, Yang C, Xin Q, Kong L, Eggersdorfer M, Ruan J, Zhao P, Shan J, Liu K, Chen D, Weitz DA, Gao X. Attractive Pickering Emulsion Gels. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2102362. [PMID: 34242431 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202102362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Properties of emulsions highly depend on the interdroplet interactions and, thus, engineering interdroplet interactions at molecular scale are essential to achieve desired emulsion systems. Here, attractive Pickering emulsion gels (APEGs) are designed and prepared by bridging neighboring particle-stabilized droplets via telechelic polymers. In the APEGs, each telechelic molecule with two amino end groups can simultaneously bind to two carboxyl functionalized nanoparticles in two neighboring droplets, forming a bridged network. The APEG systems show typical shear-thinning behaviors and their viscoelastic properties are tunable by temperature, pH, and molecular weight of the telechelic polymers, making them ideal for direct 3D printing. The APEGs can be photopolymerized to prepare APEG-templated porous materials and their microstructures can be tailored to optimize their performances, making the APEG systems promising for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiheng Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, P. R. China
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Chenjing Yang
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Qi Xin
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Linlin Kong
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - Max Eggersdorfer
- Independent Researcher, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Jian Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Peng Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Jianzhen Shan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, P. R. China
| | - Kai Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, P. R. China
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
| | - David A Weitz
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Xiang Gao
- College of Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, P. R. China
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30
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Wang Z, Hou X, Duan N, Ren Y, Yan F. Shape- and Color-Switchable Polyurethane Thermochromic Actuators Based on Metal-Containing Ionic Liquids. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:28878-28888. [PMID: 34109779 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c06422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many creatures have excellent control over their form, color, and morphology, allowing them to respond to the interaction of environmental stimuli better. Here, the bioinspired synergistic shape-color-switchable actuators based on thermally induced shape-memory triethanolamine cross-linked polyurethane (TEAPU) and thermochromic ionic liquids (ILs) were prepared. The thermochromic ILs with various metalized anions, including bis(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) tetrachloro nickelate ([Bmim]2[NiCl4]) and bis(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) tetrachloride cobalt ([Bmim]2[CoCl4]), are investigated. The actuators exhibit thermochromic response, as evidenced by a shift in the color of the composites, which is due to the formation of the tetrahedral complex MCl42- (M = Ni and Co) after dehydration. The shape-color-switchable thermochromic actuators have strong molecular interaction between TEAPU and ILs and can mimic natural flowers and change the color and shape quickly in a narrow temperature range (30-70 °C). In addition, these thermochromic actuators can lift more than 50 times their weight and withstand strains of more than 1100%. The results represent the potential application in artificial muscle actuators and intelligent camouflages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyong Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiao Hou
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Ning Duan
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yongyuan Ren
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Feng Yan
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, No. 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, China
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31
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Chen HQ, Wang XY, Bisoyi HK, Chen LJ, Li Q. Liquid Crystals in Curved Confined Geometries: Microfluidics Bring New Capabilities for Photonic Applications and Beyond. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:3789-3807. [PMID: 33775094 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The quest for interesting properties and phenomena in liquid crystals toward their employment in nondisplay application is an intense and vibrant endeavor. Remarkable progress has recently been achieved with regard to liquid crystals in curved confined geometries, typically represented as enclosed spherical geometries and cylindrical geometries with an infinitely extended axial-symmetrical space. Liquid-crystal emulsion droplets and fibers are intriguing examples from these fields and have attracted considerable attention. It is especially noteworthy that the rapid development of microfluidics brings about new capabilities to generate complex soft microstructures composed of both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals. This review attempts to outline the recent developments related to the liquid crystals in curved confined geometries by focusing on microfluidics-mediated approaches. We highlight a wealth of novel photonic applications and beyond and also offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development in this emerging research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Qing Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Xi-Yuan Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 211189, China
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
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