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Arakawa Y, Arai Y. Photoinduced Phase Transitions of Imine-Based Liquid Crystal Dimers with Twist-Bend Nematic Phases. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 17:3278. [PMID: 38998360 PMCID: PMC11243583 DOI: 10.3390/ma17133278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Photoisomerizable molecules in liquid crystals (LCs) allow for photoinduced phase transitions, facilitating applications in a wide variety of photoresponsive materials. In contrast to the widely investigated azobenzene structure, research on the photoinduced phase-transition behavior of imine-based LCs is considerably limited. We herein report the thermal and photoinduced phase-transition behaviors of photoisomerizable imine-based LC dimers with twist-bend nematic (NTB) phases. We synthesize two homologous series of ester- and thioether-linked N-(4-cyanobenzylidene)aniline-based bent-shaped LC dimers with an even number of carbon atoms (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) in the central alkylene spacers, namely, CBCOOnSBA(CN) and CBOCOnSBA(CN), possessing oppositely directed ester linkages, C=OO and OC=O, respectively. Their thermal phase-transition behavior is examined using polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All dimers form a monotropic NTB phase below the temperature of the conventional nematic (N) phase upon cooling. Remarkably, the NTB phases of CBCOOnSBA(CN) (n = 2, 4, 6, and 8) and CBOCOnSBA(CN) (n = 6 and 8) supercool to room temperature and vitrify without crystallization. In addition, the phase-transition temperatures and entropy changes of CBCOOnSBA(CN) are lower than those of CBOCOnSBA(CN) at the same n. Under UV light irradiation, the NTB and N phases transition to the N and isotropic phases, respectively, and reversibly return to their initial LC phases when the UV light is turned off.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Arakawa
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi 441-8580, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuto Arai
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi 441-8580, Aichi, Japan
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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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Wang X, Yang K, Zhao B, Deng J. Polymeric Cholesteric Superhelix Induced by Chiral Helical Polymer for Achieving Full-Color Circularly Polarized Room-Temperature Phosphorescence with Ultra-High Dissymmetry Factor. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2404576. [PMID: 38881334 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202404576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Circularly polarized room-temperature phosphorescence (CPRTP) simultaneously featuring multiple colors and extremely high dissymmetry factor (glum) is crucial for increasing the complexity of optical characteristics and advancing further development, but such a type of CPRTP is still unprecedented. The present work develops an effective and universal strategy to achieve full-color CPRTP with ultra-high glum factors in a polymeric cholesteric superhelix network, which is constructed by cholesteric liquid crystal polymer and chiral helical polymer (CHP). Taking advantage of the high helical twisting power of CHP, the resulting polymeric cholesteric superhelix network exhibits remarkable optical activity. Significantly, by adopting a simple double-layered architectures consisting of the cholesteric superhelix film and phosphorescent films, blue-, green-, yellow-, and red-CPRTP emissions are successfully obtained, with maximum |glum| values up to 1.43, 1.39, 1.09 and 0.84, respectively. Further, a multilevel information encryption application is demonstrated based on the multidimensional optical characteristics of the full-color double-layered CPRTP architectures. This study offers new insights into fabricating polymeric cholesteric superhelix with considerable CPRTP performance in advanced photonic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xujie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Kai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Biao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Jianping Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China
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Kim J, Im JH, So S, Choi Y, Kang H, Lim B, Lee M, Kim YK, Rho J. Dynamic Hyperspectral Holography Enabled by Inverse-Designed Metasurfaces with Oblique Helicoidal Cholesterics. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2311785. [PMID: 38456592 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202311785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Metasurfaces are flat arrays of nanostructures that allow exquisite control of phase and amplitude of incident light. Although metasurfaces offer new active element for both fundamental science and applications, the challenge still remains to overcome their low information capacity and passive nature. Here, by integrating an inverse-designed-metasurface with oblique helicoidal cholesteric liquid crystal (ChOH), simultaneous spatial and spectral tunable metasurfaces with a high information capacity for dynamic hyperspectral holography, are demonstrated. The inverse design facilitates a single-phase map encoding of ten independent holographic images at different wavelengths. ChOH provides precise spectral modulation with narrow bandwidth and wide tunable regime in response to programmed stimuli, thus enabling dynamic switching of the multicolor holography. The results provide simple and generalizable principles for the rational design of interactive metasurfaces that will find numerous applications, including security platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joohoon Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun-Hyung Im
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunae So
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- Department of Control and Instrumentation Engineering, Korea University, Sejong, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeongseon Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Bogyu Lim
- Department of Engineering Chemistry, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjae Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Kunsan National University, Gunsan, 54150, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ki Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Junsuk Rho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- POSCO-POSTECH-RIST Convergence Research Center for Flat Optics and Metaphotonics, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- National Institute of Nanomaterials Technology (NINT), Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
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5
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Xu Y, Huang Z, Zhang Z, Ding B, Li P, Liu J, Hao Y, Dai L, Zhang H, Zhu C, Cai W, Liu B. An Electro-Optical Kerr Device Based on 2D Boron Nitride Liquid Crystals for Solar-Blind Communications. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2307330. [PMID: 38497596 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Achieving light modulation in the spectral range of 200-280 nm is a prerequisite for solar-blind ultraviolet communication, where current technologies are mainly based on the electro-luminescent self-modulation of the ultraviolet source. External light modulation through the electro-birefringence control of liquid crystal (LC) devices has shown success in the visible-to-infrared regions. However, the poor stability of conventional LCs against ultraviolet irradiation and their weak electro-optical response make it challenging to modulate ultraviolet light. Here, an external ultraviolet light modulator is demonstrated using two-dimensional boron nitride LC. It exhibits robust ultraviolet stability and a record-high specific electro-optical Kerr coefficient of 5.1 × 10⁻2 m V-2, being three orders of magnitude higher than those of other known electro-optical media that are transparent (or potentially transparent) in the ultraviolent spectral range. The sensitive response enables fabricating transmissive and stable ultraviolet-C electro-optical Kerr modulators for solar-blind ultraviolet light. An M-ary coding array with high transmission density is also demonstrated for solar-blind ultraviolet communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youan Xu
- Xi'an Research Institute of High Technology, Xi'an, 710025, China
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ziyang Huang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zehao Zhang
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Baofu Ding
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Institute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality/Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, CAS, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Peixuan Li
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jiarong Liu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yugan Hao
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lixin Dai
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Institute of Low-dimensional Materials Genome Initiative, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Caizhen Zhu
- Institute of Low-dimensional Materials Genome Initiative, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Xi'an Research Institute of High Technology, Xi'an, 710025, China
| | - Bilu Liu
- Shenzhen Geim Graphene Center, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Layered Materials for Value-added Applications, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute and Institute of Materials Research, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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6
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Wang Q, Bao J, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Qiu D, Yang J, Zhang J, Gao H, Wu Y, Dong H, Yang H, Wei Z. High-Performance Organic Narrow Dual-Band Circular Polarized Light Detection for Encrypted Communications and Color Imaging. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2312396. [PMID: 38198647 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Conventional circularly polarized light (CPL) detectors necessitate several optical elements, posing difficulties in achieving miniature and integrated devices. Recently developed organic CPL detectors require no additional optical elements but usually suffer from low detectivity or low asymmetry factor (g-factor). Here, an organic CPL detector with excellent detectivity and a high g-factor is fabricated. By employing an inverted quasi-planar heterojunction (IPHJ) structure and incorporating an additional liquid crystal film, a CPL detector with an outstanding g-factor of 1.62 is developed. Unfavorable charge injection is effectively suppressed by the IPHJ structure, which reduces the dark current of the organic photodetector. Consequently, a left CPL detectivity of 6.16 × 1014 Jones at 640 nm is realized, surpassing all of the latest photodiode-type CPL detectors. Adopting a liquid crystal film with adjustable wavelengths of selectively reflected light, the hybrid device achieves narrow dual-band CPL detection, varying from 530 to 640 nm, with a half-maximum full width below 90 nm. Notably, the device achieves excellent stability of 260 000 on/off cycles without attenuation. To the best of the authors' knowledge, all these features have rarely been reported in previous work. The CPL detector arrays are also demonstrated for encrypted communications and color imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingkai Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Jinying Bao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Yajie Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuheng Wang
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China
| | - Dingding Qiu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jiaxin Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Solid, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Jianqi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hanfei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuchen Wu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Huanli Dong
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Organic Solid, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Huai Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Zhixiang Wei
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nanosystem and Hierarchical Fabrication, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, 100190, China
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7
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Liu J, Wu JJ, Wei J, Huang ZJ, Zhou XY, Bao JY, Lan RC, Ma Y, Li BX, Yang H, Lu YQ, Zhao Q. Dynamically Modulating the Dissymmetry Factor of Circularly Polarized Organic Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence from Soft Helical Superstructures. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319536. [PMID: 38265637 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319536] [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: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Achieving circularly polarized organic ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (CP-OURTP) with a high luminescent dissymmetry factor (glum ) is crucial for diverse optoelectronic applications. In particular, dynamically controlling the dissymmetry factor of CP-OURTP can profoundly advance these applications, but it is still unprecedented. This study introduces an effective strategy to achieve photoirradiation-driven chirality regulation in a bilayered structure film, which consists of a layer of soft helical superstructure incorporated with a light-driven molecular motor and a layer of room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) polymer. The prepared bilayered film exhibits CP-OURTP with an emission lifetime of 805 ms and a glum value up to 1.38. Remarkably, the glum value of the resulting CP-OURTP film can be reversibly controlled between 0.6 and 1.38 over 20 cycles by light irradiation, representing the first example of dynamically controlling the glum in CP-OURTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Liu
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wu
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Juan Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Huang
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xin-Yu Zhou
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jin-Ying Bao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of, Ministry of Education Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Ruo-Chen Lan
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, China
| | - Yun Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Bing-Xiang Li
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Huai Yang
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of, Ministry of Education Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid-State Microstructures & Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures & College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
- State Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, China
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Li SL, Chen ZY, Chen P, Hu W, Huang C, Li SS, Hu X, Lu YQ, Chen LJ. Geometric phase-encoded stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals for visualizing real-time remote monitoring: humidity sensing as a proof of concept. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2024; 13:27. [PMID: 38263398 PMCID: PMC10805905 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-023-01360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystals are a vital component of modern photonics, and recent studies have demonstrated the exceptional sensing properties of stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals. However, existing cholesteric liquid crystal-based sensors often rely on the naked eye perceptibility of structural color or the measurement of wavelength changes by spectrometric tools, which limits their practical applications. Therefore, developing a platform that produces recognizable sensing signals is critical. In this study, we present a visual sensing platform based on geometric phase encoding of stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal polymers that generates real-time visual patterns, rather than frequency changes. To demonstrate this platform's effectiveness, we used a humidity-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal polymer film encoded with a q-plate pattern, which revealed that humidity causes a shape change in the vortex beam reflected from the encoded cholesteric liquid crystal polymers. Moreover, we developed a prototype platform towards remote humidity monitoring benefiting from the high directionality and long-range transmission properties of laser beams carrying orbital angular momentum. Our approach provides a novel sensing platform for cholesteric liquid crystals-based sensors that offers promising practical applications. The ability to generate recognizable sensing signals through visual patterns offers a new level of practicality in the sensing field with stimuli-responsive cholesteric liquid crystals. This platform might have significant implications for a broad readership and will be of interest to researchers working in the field of photonics and sensing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Long Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhao-Yi Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Peng Chen
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Hu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China
| | - Chaohong Huang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Sen-Sen Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Xuejia Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, 210093, Nanjing, China.
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
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Wang HQ, Tang Y, Huang ZY, Wang FZ, Qiu PF, Zhang X, Li CH, Li Q. A Dual-Responsive Liquid Crystal Elastomer for Multi-Level Encryption and Transient Information Display. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202313728. [PMID: 37818673 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202313728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Information security has gained increasing attention in the past decade, leading to the development of advanced materials for anti-counterfeiting, encryption and instantaneous information display. However, it remains challenging to achieve high information security with simple encryption procedures and low-energy stimuli. Herein, a series of strain/temperature-responsive liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are developed to achieve dual-modal, multi-level information encryption and real-time, rewritable transient information display. The as-prepared polydomain LCEs can change from an opaque state to a transparent state under strain or temperature stimuli, with the transition strains or temperatures highly dependent on the concentration of long-chain flexible spacers. Information encrypted by different LCE inks can be decrypted under specific strains or temperatures, leading to multi-level protection of information security. Furthermore, with the combination of the phase transition of polydomain LCEs and the photothermal effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), we achieved a repeatable transient information display by using near-infrared (NIR) light as a pen for writing. This study provides new insight into the development of advanced encryption materials with versatility and high security for broad applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Qin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuqi Tang
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, 211189, Nanjing, China
| | - Zi-Yang Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang-Zhou Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng-Fei Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinfang Zhang
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, 44242, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Cheng-Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, 211189, Nanjing, China
- Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, 44242, Kent, Ohio, USA
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Liu SJ, Zhu L, Zhang YH, Chen W, Zhu D, Chen P, Lu YQ. Bi-Chiral Nanostructures Featuring Dynamic Optical Rotatory Dispersion for Polychromatic Light Multiplexing. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2301714. [PMID: 37158735 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Chiral nanostructures featuring the unique optical activity have attracted broad interests from scientists. The typical polarization rotation of transmitted light is usually wavelength dependent, namely the optical rotatory dispersion. However, its dynamic tunability and intriguing collaboration with other optical degrees of freedom, especially the highly desired spatial phase, remain elusive. Herein, a bi-chiral liquid crystalline nanostructure is proposed to induce an effect called reflective optical rotatory dispersion. Thanks to the independent manipulation of opposite-handed self-assembled helices, spin-decoupled geometric phases are induced simultaneously. These naturally unite multi-dimensions of light and versatile stimuli-responsiveness of soft matter. Dynamic holography driven by heat and electric field is demonstrated with a fast response. For polychromatic light, the hybrid multiplexed holographic painting is exhibited with fruitful tunable colors. This study extends the ingenious construction of soft chiral superstructures, presents an open-ended strategy for on-demand light control, and enlightens advanced applications of display, optical computing, and communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Jia Liu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Yi-Heng Zhang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Wen Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Dong Zhu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Peng Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
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11
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Feng W, Pal A, Wang T, Ren Z, Yan Y, Lu Y, Yang H, Sitti M. Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Polymeric Coatings for Colorful Artificial Muscles and Motile Humidity Sensor Skin Integrated with Magnetic Composites. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2023; 33:adfm.202300731. [PMID: 37293509 PMCID: PMC7614630 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202300731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Structural colorful cholesterics show impressive susceptibility to external stimulation, leading to applications in electro/mechano-chromic devices. However, out-of-plane actuation of structural colorful actuators based on cholesterics and the integration with other stimulation remains underdeveloped. Herein, colorful actuators and motile humidity sensors are developed using humidity-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal networks (CLCNs) and magnetic composites. The developed colorful actuator can exhibit synergistic out-of-plane shape morphing and color change in response to humidity, with CLCNs as colorful artificial muscles. Through the integration with magnetic control, the motile sensor can be navigated to open and confined spaces with the aid of friction to detect local relative humidity. The integration of multi-stimulation actuation of cholesteric magnetic actuators will expand the research frontier of structural colorful actuators and motile sensors for confined spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Feng
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Aniket Pal
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Tianlu Wang
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ziyu Ren
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yingbo Yan
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics and Medical Science, SV LAB, School of Aerospace, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Yanqing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid-state Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Huai Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering & School of Materials Science and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Metin Sitti
- Physical Intelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany; Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland; School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
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12
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Wang Y, Yuan CL, Huang W, Sun PZ, Liu B, Hu HL, Zheng Z, Lu YQ, Li Q. Programmable Jigsaw Puzzles of Soft Materials Enabled by Pixelated Holographic Surface Reliefs. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2211521. [PMID: 36744552 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Manual intervention in the self-organization of soft matter to obtain a desired superstructure is a complex but significant project. Specifically, optical components made fully or partially from reconfigurable and stimuli-responsive soft materials, referred to as soft photonics, are poised to form versatile platforms in various areas; however, a limited scale, narrow spectral adaptability, and poor stability are still formidable challenges. Herein, a facile way is developed to program the optical jigsaw puzzle of nematic liquid crystals via pixelated holographic surface reliefs, leading to an era of manufacturing for programmable soft materials with tailored functions. Multiscale jigsaw puzzles are established and endowed with unprecedented stability and durability, further sketching a prospective framework toward customized adaptive photonic architectures. This work demonstrates a reliable and efficient approach for directly assembling soft matter, unlocking the long-sought full potential of stimuli-responsive soft systems, and providing opportunities to inspire the next generation of soft photonics and relevant areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Wang
- School of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Cong-Long Yuan
- School of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wenbin Huang
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering and Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Pei-Zhi Sun
- School of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Binghui Liu
- School of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Hong-Long Hu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Zhigang Zheng
- School of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Key Laboratory of Intelligent Optical Sensing and Manipulation, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing, 211189, China
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
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13
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Li X, Guo Y, Zhang M, Zhang C, Niu R, Ma H, Sun Y. Colorable Light-Scattering Device Based on Polymer-Stabilized Ion-Doped Cholesteric Liquid Crystal and an Electrochromatic Layer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:7184-7195. [PMID: 36701765 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17770] [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
Bistable polymer-stabilized cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) devices have been extensively researched due to their energy-saving benefits. Compared to devices with merely transparent and light-scattering states, LC devices with controlled light absorption or changeable color functions are unquestionably more intriguing. In this paper, a polymer-stabilized ion-doped cholesteric LC and an electrochromic layer are used to fabricate a colorable device which can show four operating states: transparent, light-scattering, colored transparent, and colored light-scattering. The working principle and fabrication strategy are explained in detail. Based on the dielectric response of LC, the electrohydrodynamic effect of ion-doped LC, and the redox reaction of electrochromic materials, the transparent or light-scattering state and the colored or colorless state of the device can be regulated by controlling the alternating frequency and the direction of the electric field. The display performance related to the monomer, chiral dopant, and electrochromic layer is investigated. The content of monomer and chiral dopant affects the polymer network and pitch of cholesteric LC, which then affects the driving voltages and contrast ratio. The thickness of the electrochromic layer has a significant impact on the transmittance of the device's coloring and fading states. The sample with excellent operating states is obtained by optimizing the material and the construction, which can be widely applied in smart windows and energy-saving display devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuai Li
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Yuqiang Guo
- School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Meishan Zhang
- Department of Applied Physics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Rui Niu
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Hongmei Ma
- Department of Applied Physics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Yubao Sun
- School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
- Department of Applied Physics, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
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14
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Lan R, Bao J, Li Z, Wang Z, Song C, Shen C, Huang R, Sun J, Wang Q, Zhang L, Yang H. Orthogonally Integrating Programmable Structural Color and Photo‐Rewritable Fluorescence in Hydrazone Photoswitch‐bonded Cholesteric Liquid Crystalline Network. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202213915. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202213915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- 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 Key Lab of Fluorine and Silicon for Energy Materials and Chemistry of Ministry of Education Jiangxi Normal University Nanchang 330022 P. R. China
| | - Jinying Bao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering&School of Materials Science and Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. China
| | - Zhaozhong Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 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
- Department of Ophthalmology Beijing Anzhen Hospital Capital Medical University Beijing 100029 P. R. China
| | - Chen Shen
- China National Machinery Industry Corporation (Sinomach) Beijing 100080 P. R. China
| | - Rui Huang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering University of Science and Technology Beijing Beijing 100083 P. R. China
| | - Jian Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering&School of Materials Science and Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 P. R. China
| | - Qian Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering&School of Materials Science and Engineering Peking University Beijing 100871 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
| | - 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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