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Wei W, Xiong H. Liquid-Crystalline Polymers: Molecular Engineering, Hierarchical Structures, and Applications. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:11514-11520. [PMID: 36103648 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-crystalline polymers (LCPs) are a unique class of soft materials that combine liquid crystal and polymer characteristics. This perspective highlights recent advances of LCPs on the aspects of molecular engineering, hierarchical structures, and emerging applications. The strategy of sequence control in polymer synthesis has been introduced to tailor the primary structures of LCPs as well as their phases and orders. By incorporating mesogenic motifs rich in shape, order, and interaction into LCPs, novel bulk and interfacial structures on hierarchical scales are anticipated. The intrinsic features and fascinating properties of LCPs enable them to find potential applications in emerging areas including integrated circuits, lasing, environment, and energy, implying compelling opportunities for LCPs in fundamental science and transformative technologies.
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Zeng M, King D, Huang D, Do C, Wang L, Chen M, Lei S, Lin P, Chen Y, Cheng Z. Iridescence in nematics: Photonic liquid crystals of nanoplates in absence of long-range periodicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18322-18327. [PMID: 31444300 PMCID: PMC6744873 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906511116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Photonic materials with positionally ordered structure can interact strongly with light to produce brilliant structural colors. Here, we found that the nonperiodic nematic liquid crystals of nanoplates can also display structural color with only significant orientational order. Owing to the loose stacking of the nematic nanodiscs, such colloidal dispersion is able to reflect a broad-spectrum wavelength, of which the reflection color can be further enhanced by adding carbon nanoparticles to reduce background scattering. Upon the addition of electrolytes, such vivid colors of nematic dispersion can be fine-tuned via electrostatic forces. Furthermore, we took advantage of the fluidity of the nematic structure to create a variety of colorful arts. It was expected that the concept of implanting nematic features in photonic structure of lyotropic nanoparticles may open opportunities for developing advanced photonic materials for display, sensing, and art applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minxiang Zeng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Daniel King
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Dali Huang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Changwoo Do
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831
| | - Ling Wang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 300350 Tianjin, China
| | - Mingfeng Chen
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijun Lei
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Pengcheng Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, 510006 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengdong Cheng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843;
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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Wei W, You D, Xiong H. Thermotropic and Lyotropic Transitions of Concentrated Solutions of Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers in a Liquid Crystalline Solvent. Macromolecules 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Donglei You
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Huiming Xiong
- Department
of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and ‡Center for Soft
Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
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Wei W, Wu Z, Huang M, Hsu CH, Liu Y, Zhang X, Xiong H. Discovery of hierarchical superstructures in block copolymers by integrating different liquid crystalline interactions. SOFT MATTER 2017; 13:2583-2589. [PMID: 28294274 DOI: 10.1039/c7sm00349h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Hierarchically assembled superstructures of block copolymers are discovered by introduction of the competition of anisotropy attributed from liquid crystalline ordering and nano-phase separation. When the two prototypical fields of liquid crystals (LCs), smectics (S) and nematics (N), are adjoined within the framework of diblock copolymers (S-N) in a variety of precisely tuned compositions, a novel class of superlattices with an interdigitated array of smectic layers between the nearest lamellae or cylinders are observed. This generates unconventional nano-phase separated orthorhombic (Lo) and pseudo-hexagonal (Ho) structures, where the stretched N tethers, projected regularly from the S layers, could transfer the local organization and guide the correlated assembly. This type of superstructure is highly frustrated in reversed cylindrical morphology and absent in S-coil diblock copolymers. The collective interplay of the S and N interactions with nano-phase separation induces the formation of the final complex yet equilibrium structures, providing unprecedented opportunities towards exquisite structural diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Zhichao Wu
- Department of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Mingjun Huang
- Department of Polymer Science, the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Chih-Hao Hsu
- Department of Polymer Science, the University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, USA
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Xinlin Zhang
- Department of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
| | - Huiming Xiong
- Department of Polymer Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China and Center for Soft Matter and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
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5
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Xie Y, Chang JJ, Wu YB, Yang D, Wang H, Zhang T, Li SX, Guo WL. Synthesis and properties of bromide- functionalized poly(isobutylene-co-p- methylstyrene) random copolymer. POLYM INT 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/pi.5286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xie
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Jin-jie Chang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Yi-bo Wu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Dan Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Hao Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Tao Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Shu-xin Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
| | - Wen-li Guo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Specialty Elastomer Composite Materials; Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology; Beijing 102617 China
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6
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Hofman AH, ten Brinke G, Loos K. Hierarchical structure formation in supramolecular comb-shaped block copolymers. POLYMER 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2016.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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7
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Ji L, Chen X, Wu Y, Yang X, Tu Y. Influence of liquid crystalline formation on the phase behavior of side-chain liquid crystalline block copolymers. POLYMER 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.01.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Abstract
Synthesis of gradient liquid crystalline copolymers is reported for the first time, phase structures of which on multiple length scales with composition and temperature are investigated and compared with the corresponding diblock copolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- Department of Polymer Science
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai
- P. R. China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Polymer Science
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai
- P. R. China
| | - Huiming Xiong
- Department of Polymer Science
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- Shanghai
- P. R. China
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Ni B, Liao J, Chen S, Zhang HL. Influence of alkoxy tail length on the phase behaviors of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers without the spacer. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ra15361h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The alkoxy tail plays an important role in the phase behavior of the SCLCPs based on biphenyl mesogen without the spacer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Ni
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges
- Universities of Hunan Province
- College of Chemistry
- Xiangtan University
| | - Junqiu Liao
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges
- Universities of Hunan Province
- College of Chemistry
- Xiangtan University
| | - Sheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges
- Universities of Hunan Province
- College of Chemistry
- Xiangtan University
| | - Hai-liang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Polymeric Materials and Application Technology of Hunan Province
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Materials of Colleges
- Universities of Hunan Province
- College of Chemistry
- Xiangtan University
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Wei W, Liu Y, Xiong H. Hierarchical Nanostructures and Self-Assemblies in Smectic-Nematic Liquid Crystalline Diblock Copolymers. ACS Macro Lett 2014; 3:892-895. [PMID: 35596355 DOI: 10.1021/mz500460j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Coexistence of smectic and nematic orders in 3D curvaceous bicontineous cubic or hexagonal hierarchical structures is observed in a novel class of nanophase separated, flexible double liquid crystalline (LC) diblock copolymers of different molecular weights (MWs) but similar compositions, obtained via sequential anionic polymerization. The diblock copolymer of higher MW exhibits an exceptional order-order transition (OOT) from lamellae (Lam) to hexagonal-packed cylinder (HPC) upon nematic ordering. In contrast, the polymer with lower MW forms a thermodynamically stable, ordered gyroid structure, interwining with LC defects on nanoscale. Delicate balance of collective LC interactions and geometric frustration dictates this unique behavior, which offers a genuine way to fine-tune 2D and 3D complex structures with sub-10 nm feature sizes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Polymer Science,
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Polymer Science,
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huiming Xiong
- Department of Polymer Science,
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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