1
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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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2
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Nam S, Jung W, Shin JH, Choi SS. Omnidirectional color wavelength tuning of stretchable chiral liquid crystal elastomers. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:114. [PMID: 38773092 PMCID: PMC11109264 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-024-01470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Wavelength-tunable structural colors using stimuli-responsive materials, such as chiral liquid crystals (CLCs), have attracted increasing attention owing to their high functionality in various tunable photonic applications. Ideally, on-demand omnidirectional wavelength control is highly desirable from the perspective of wavelength-tuning freedom. However, despite numerous previous research efforts on tunable CLC structural colors, only mono-directional wavelength tuning toward shorter wavelengths has been employed in most studies to date. In this study, we report the ideally desired omnidirectional wavelength control toward longer and shorter wavelengths with significantly improved tunability over a broadband wavelength range. By using areal expanding and contractive strain control of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) with chiral liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), simultaneous and omnidirectional structural color-tuning control was achieved. This breakthrough in omnidirectional wavelength control enhances the achievable tuning freedom and versatility, making it applicable to a broad range of high-functional photonic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungmin Nam
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea
| | - Wontae Jung
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea
| | - Jun Hyuk Shin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea
| | - Su Seok Choi
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea.
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3
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Gao LT, Chen YM, Aziz Y, Wei W, Zhao XY, He Y, Li J, Li H, Miyatake H, Ito Y. Tough, self-healing and injectable dynamic nanocomposite hydrogel based on gelatin and sodium alginate. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 330:121812. [PMID: 38368083 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Biomacromolecules based injectable and self-healing hydrogels possessing high mechanical properties have widespread potential in biomedical field. However, dynamic features are usually inversely proportional to toughness. It is challenging to simultaneously endow these properties to the dynamic hydrogels. Here, we fabricated an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel (CS-NPs@OSA-l-Gtn) stimultaneously possessing excellent autonomous self-healing performance and high mechanical strength by doping chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NPs) into dynamic polymer networks of oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and gelatin (Gtn) in the presence of borax. The synergistic effect of the multiple reversible interactions combining dynamic covalent bonds (i.e., imine bond and borate ester bond) and noncovalent interactions (i.e., electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond) provide effective energy dissipation to endure high fatigue resistance and cyclic loading. The dynamic hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical properties like maximum 2.43 MPa compressive strength, 493.91 % fracture strain, and 89.54 kJ/m3 toughness. Moreover, the integrated hydrogel after injection and self-healing could withstand 150 successive compressive cycles. Besides, the bovine serum albumin embedded in CS-NPs could be sustainably released from the nanocomposite hydrogel for 12 days. This study proposes a novel strategy to synthesize an injectable and self-healing hydrogel combined with excellent mechanical properties for designing high-strength natural carriers with sustained protein delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ting Gao
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Yong Mei Chen
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China.
| | - Yasir Aziz
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Wei Wei
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Xin Yi Zhao
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Yuan He
- College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Light Chemistry Engineering Education, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710021, China
| | - Jianhui Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, China.
| | - Haopeng Li
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an. Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Hideyuki Miyatake
- Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Emergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 3510198, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ito
- Nano Medical Engineering Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Emergent Bioengineering Materials Research Team, RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 3510198, Japan
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4
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de Castro LC, Engels TAP, Oliveira ON, Schenning APHJ. Sticky Multicolor Mechanochromic Labels. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:14144-14151. [PMID: 38448425 PMCID: PMC10958449 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Sticky-colored labels are an efficient way to communicate visual information. However, most labels are static. Here, we propose a new category of dynamic sticky labels that change structural colors when stretched. The sticky mechanochromic labels can be pasted on flexible surfaces such as fabric and rubber or even on brittle materials. To enhance their applicability, we demonstrate a simple method for imprinting structural color patterns that are either always visible or reversibly revealed or concealed upon mechanical deformation. The mechanochromic patterns are imprinted with a photomask during the ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking of acrylate-terminated cholesteric liquid crystal oligomers in a single step at room temperature. The photomask locally controls the cross-linking degree and volumetric response of the cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs). A nonuniform thickness change induced by the Poisson's ratio contrast between the pattern and the surrounding background might lead to a color-separation effect. Our sticky multicolor mechanochromic labels may be utilized in stress-strain sensing, building environments, smart clothing, security labels, and decoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas
D. C. de Castro
- São
Carlos Institute of Physics, University
of São Paulo, São
Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory
of Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices (SFD), Department
of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven
University of Technology, Eindhoven5612 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Tom A. P. Engels
- Processing
and Performance of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Osvaldo N. Oliveira
- São
Carlos Institute of Physics, University
of São Paulo, São
Carlos 13566-590, SP, Brazil
| | - Albert P. H. J. Schenning
- Laboratory
of Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices (SFD), Department
of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven
University of Technology, Eindhoven5612 MB, The Netherlands
- Institute
for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven
University of Technology, Eindhoven 5612 MB, The Netherlands
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5
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Zhang J, Qin S, Zhang S, Sun C, Ren Y, Zhang L, Liu J, Xiao J, Hu W, Yang H, Yang D. Programmable Dynamic Information Storage Composite Film with Highly Sensitive Thermochromism and Gradually Adjustable Fluorescence. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2305872. [PMID: 38016803 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202305872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
The development of an integrated material system capable of effectively organizing and combining multisource information, such as dynamic pigmentary, structural, and fluorescent colors, is significant and challenging. Achieving such programmable dynamic information storage can considerably enhance the diversity and security of information deliveries. Here, a polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal system with highly temperature-sensitive structural color and light-sensitive pigmentary and fluorescence colors is presented. The prepared cholesteric liquid crystals (clcs) can reversibly change their structural color from red to blue within variational 3 °C near room temperature, and exhibit a gradually adjustable fluorescence which can transform from blue to pink and finally to bright red. All this dynamic information is programmable and tailored, hundreds of thousands of (>540 000) pattern combinations can easily be achieved by optical writing with a "bagua" pattern photomask. Therefore, if the corresponding code combinations to the pattern are assigned particular meanings, encrypted transmission of information with very high security can be achieved by utilizing applicable information encoding tables and decryption rules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Shengyu Qin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Shuoning Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Chang Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Yunxiao Ren
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Lanying Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Jiale Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Jiumei Xiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Wei Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Huai Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Dengke Yang
- Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program in Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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6
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Zhao F, Li Y, Gao H, Tao R, Mao Y, Chen Y, Zhou S, Zhao J, Wang D. Design and Characterization of Deformable Superstructures Based on Amine-Acrylate Liquid Crystal Elastomers. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2303594. [PMID: 37942681 PMCID: PMC10754073 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202303594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Deformable superstructures are man-made materials with large deformation properties that surpass those of natural materials. However, traditional deformable superstructures generally use conventional materials as substrates, limiting their applications in multi-mode reconfigurable robots and space-expandable morphing structures. In this work, amine-acrylate-based liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are used as deformable superstructures substrate to provide high driving stress and strain. By changing the molar ratio of amine to acrylate, the thermal and mechanical properties of the LCEs are modified. The LCE with a ratio of 0.9 exhibited improved polymerization degree, elongation at break, and toughness. Besides an anisotropic finite deformation model based on hyperelastic theory is developed for the LCEs to capture the configuration variation under temperature activation. Built upon these findings, an LCE-based paper-cutting structure with negative Poisson's ratio and a 2D lattice superstructure model are combined, processed, and molded by laser cutting. The developed superstructure is pre-programmed to the configuration required for service conditions, and the deformation processes are analyzed using both experimental and finite element methods. This study is expected to advance the application of deformable superstructures and LCEs in the fields of defense and military, aerospace, and bionic robotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhao
- Division of Material EngineeringChina Academy of Space TechnologyBeijing100094P. R. China
- Department of Materials Physics and ChemistrySchool of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing100083P. R. China
| | - Yuzhan Li
- Department of Materials Physics and ChemistrySchool of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing100083P. R. China
| | - Hong Gao
- Division of Material EngineeringChina Academy of Space TechnologyBeijing100094P. R. China
| | - Ran Tao
- Institute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081P. R. China
| | - Yiqi Mao
- Department of engineering mechanicsCollege of Mechanical and Vehicle EngineeringHunan UniversityChangshaHunan410082P. R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- Institute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081P. R. China
| | - Sheng Zhou
- Institute of Advanced Structure TechnologyBeijing Institute of TechnologyBeijing100081P. R. China
| | - Jianming Zhao
- Department of Materials Physics and ChemistrySchool of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing100083P. R. China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Materials Physics and ChemistrySchool of Materials Science and EngineeringUniversity of Science and Technology BeijingBeijing100083P. R. China
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7
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Chen G, Lin R, Lei Y, Cai P, Huang Y, Zhang H. Thiol-ene chemistry incorporates a new spiropyran-containing polyurethane ionogel with photochromic, photomechanical and photoconductive properties. SOFT MATTER 2023. [PMID: 38019726 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01055d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The photocuring technology based on thiol-ene click reaction can be easily applied for copolymerizing or crosslinking the acrylate monomers for ionogels. However, there is still a problem: when the acrylate monomers contain the popular spiropyran as the stimuli-responsive group, it should be concerned about the participation of the active CC bond from the ring-opened spiropyran during a thiol-ene reaction, which may in turn affect the stimuli-responsiveness of the spiropyran. Up to now, the structure and properties of spiropyran-containing ionogels in this case have still not been well investigated. Therefore, in this work we carefully study a new spiropyran-containing polyurethane ionogel by crosslinking an acrylate-terminated, spiropyran-containing polyurethane prepolymer and a polythiol in ionic liquid through thiol-ene chemistry. It is found for the first time that, during constructing an ionogel, the coexistence of a reversible thiol-ene reaction between the CC bond from the ring-opened spiropyran and the thiol group can bring about a different reverse photochromic behavior. The proposed mechanism of the abnormal photochromism is analyzed. In addition, it is also observed that the thiol-ene chemistry can incorporate photomechanical and photoconductive properties into the new spiropyran-containing ionogel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoneng Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
| | - Riyan Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yanshi Lei
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
| | - Peng Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yifu Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hefeng Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Key Laboratory for Preparation and Application of Ordered Structural Materials of Guangdong Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Zhao J, Yu R, Wu L, Li Y, Liu W, Yang Y. A PSCLC Pattern Prepared Based on Handedness Inversion for Anti-counterfeiting. Chem Asian J 2023; 18:e202300636. [PMID: 37606182 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202300636] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Handedness inversion has been widely studied in supramolecular chemistry and material sciences. Herein, a photoisomerizable chiral dopant was synthesized, which could induce the formation of a cholesteric phase with right-handedness. The Bragg reflection band of the cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) mixture shifted to the long wavelength with extending 365 nm UV light irradiation time. Based on this photochromic property, a colourful polymer-stabilized CLC (PSCLC) film was prepared using a grayscale mask. A handedness reversible CLC mixture was prepared using a mixture of this chiral dopant and S5011. With extending the UV light irradiation time, the handedness of the CLC mixture changed from right- to left-handedness. A patterned PSCLC film was prepared using this CLC mixture. Complementary images were observed under right- and left-handedness circularly polarized lights. The results shown here not only give us a better understanding the competition between photopolymerization and photoisomerization, but also lay the foundations for decoration and anti-counterfeiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Zhao
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Runwei Yu
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Limin Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Yi Li
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Yonggang Yang
- State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
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9
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Bao J, Wang Z, Song C, Zhang Y, Li Z, Zhang L, Lan R, Yang H. Shape-Programmable Liquid-Crystalline Polyurethane-Based Multimode Actuators Triggered by Light-Driven Molecular Motors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2302168. [PMID: 37459653 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, light-driven soft actuators have been rapidly developed as enablers in the fabrication of artificial robots and biomimetic devices. However, it remains challenging to amplify molecular isomerization to multiple modes of macroscopic actuation with large amplitude and complex motions. Here, a strategy is reported to build a light-responsive liquid-crystalline polyurethane elastomer by phototriggered overcrowded alkene-based molecular motors. A trifunctional molecular motor modified with an ethylene glycol spacer on the rotor and stator functions as a crosslinker and unidirectional stirrer that amplifies molecular motion into macroscopic movement. The shape-programmable polymeric film presents superior mechanical properties and characteristic shape-memory effect. Furthermore, diverse modes of motions including bending, unwinding, and contracting with tunable actuation speed over a wide range are achieved. Such research is hoped to pave a new way for the design of advanced light-responsive soft actuators and robots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Bao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Zizheng Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Chenjie Song
- Capital Medical University, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing, 100029, P. R. China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Zhaozhong Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Lanying Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Ruochen Lan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China
| | - Huai Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
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10
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Liu Z, Jiang Q, Bisoyi HK, Zhu G, Nie ZZ, Jiang K, Yang H, Li Q. Multifunctional Ionic Conductive Anisotropic Elastomers with Self-Wrinkling Microstructures by In Situ Phase Separation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37267423 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional flexible sensors are the development trend of wearable electronic devices in the future. As the core of flexible sensors, the key is to construct a stable multifunctional integrated conductive elastomer. Here, ionic conductive elastomers (ICEs) with self-wrinkling microstructures are designed and prepared by in situ phase separation induced by a one-step polymerization reaction. The ICEs are composed of ionic liquids as ionic conductors doped into liquid crystal elastomers. The doped ionic liquids cluster into small droplets and in situ induce the formation of wrinkle structures on the upper surface of the films. The prepared ICEs exhibit mechanochromism, conductivity, large tensile strain, low hysteresis, high cycle stability, and sensitivity during the tension-release process, which achieve dual-mode outputs of optical and electrical signals for information transmission and sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyang Liu
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Qi Jiang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
| | - Guanqun Zhu
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Zhen-Zhou Nie
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Kun Jiang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
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