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Zhang Y, Yang W, Gu M, Wei Q, Lv P, Li M, Liu D, Zhao W, Broer DJ, Zhou G. Versatile homeotropic liquid crystal alignment with tunable functionality prepared by one-step method. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 608:2290-2297. [PMID: 34774317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.10.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alignment layers are vital to the function of numerous devices based on liquid crystal (LC) materials. The pursue of versatile, effective and even flexible alignment layers, preferably prepared by simple methods, is still actively ongoing. Herein, we propose a facile one-step method by mixing silanes into the starting LC mixtures, which in contact with a glass substrate secede and self-assemble in-situ to form a stable and highly effective homeotropic alignment layer at the interface. Tetradecyldimethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)ammonium chloride (TDTA) is selected as the example to demonstrate the method, although a number of other silanes can produce similar results. With only 0.05 vol% of TDTA added to a mixture of liquid crystals and reactive mesogens, a uniform monolayer is chemically attached to the substrate, which automatically aligns the LCs homeotropically. Furthermore, by blending the TDTA with acrylate functionalized silanes like 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (A174), additional reactive functional groups can be easily introduced into the alignment layer, therefore offering opportunities to adjust the interface properties. An electro-responsive smart window based on the polymer stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs) is successfully prepared using a one-step method, demonstrating excellent electro-optic performances and notably enhanced adhesion between the substrate and the in-situ formed polymer network. These findings are valuable especially for the development of flexible LC devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China; Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Weiping Yang
- Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Minzhao Gu
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Qunmei Wei
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengrong Lv
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- Solar Energy Research Institute, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Danqing Liu
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China; Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands
| | - Wei Zhao
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Dirk J Broer
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China; Stimuli-responsive Functional Materials and Devices, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, Eindhoven 5600 MB, the Netherlands
| | - Guofu Zhou
- SCNU-TUE Joint Lab of Device Integrated Responsive Materials (DIRM), National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, No 378, West Waihuan Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, 510006 Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Tech. Co. Ltd., Shenzhen 518110, China
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