Strongly luminescent and liquid-crystalline π-conjugated 2-methyl[1,2,3]benzotriazoles with a linear donor-acceptor-donor structure

An Up-to-Date Overview of Liquid Crystals and Liquid Crystal Polymers for Different Applications: A Review

Liquid crystals have been extensively used in various applications, such as optoelectronic devices, biomedical applications, sensors and biosensors, and packaging, among others. Liquid crystal polymers are one type of liquid crystal material, combining their intrinsic properties with polymeric flexibility for advanced applications in displays and smart materials. For instance, liquid crystal polymers can serve as drug nanocarriers, forming cubic or hexagonal mesophases, which can be tailored for controlled drug release. Further applications of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers include the preparation of membranes for separation processes, such as wastewater treatment. Furthermore, these materials can be used as ion-conducting membranes for fuel cells or lithium batteries due to their broad types of mesophases. This review aims to provide an overall explanation and classification of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymers. Furthermore, the great potential of these materials relies on their broad range of applications, which are determined by their unique properties. Moreover, this study provides the latest advances in liquid crystal polymer-based membranes and their applications, focusing especially on fuel cells. Moreover, future directions in the applications of various liquid crystals are highlighted.

Benzotriazole-EDOT electrochromic conjugated polymers perform sub-second response time and 774 cm2C-1 coloration efficiency

To investigate the effect of double fluorine substitution on the optical, electrochemical, thermodynamic, morphological and electrochromic properties of electrochromic polymers, two benzotriazole-EDOT electrochromic conjugated polymers of PBTz-E and P2F-BTz-E were...

Chromophoric Dendrimer-Based Materials: An Overview of Holistic-Integrated Molecular Systems for Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Phenomenon

Dendrimers (from the Greek dendros → tree; meros → part) are macromolecules with well-defined three-dimensional and tree-like structures. Remarkably, this hyperbranched architecture is one of the most ubiquitous, prolific, and recognizable natural patterns observed in nature. The rational design and the synthesis of highly functionalized architectures have been motivated by the need to mimic synthetic and natural-light-induced energy processes. Dendrimers offer an attractive material scaffold to generate innovative, technological, and functional materials because they provide a high amount of peripherally functional groups and void nanoreservoirs. Therefore, dendrimers emerge as excellent candidates since they can play a highly relevant role as unimolecular reactors at the nanoscale, acting as versatile and sophisticated entities. In particular, they can play a key role in the properties of light-energy harvesting and non-radiative energy transfer, allowing them to function as a whole unit. Remarkably, it is possible to promote the occurrence of the FRET phenomenon to concentrate the absorbed energy in photoactive centers. Finally, we think an in-depth understanding of this mechanism allows for diverse and prolific technological applications, such as imaging, biomedical therapy, and the conversion and storage of light energy, among others.