1
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Bassani CL, van Anders G, Banin U, Baranov D, Chen Q, Dijkstra M, Dimitriyev MS, Efrati E, Faraudo J, Gang O, Gaston N, Golestanian R, Guerrero-Garcia GI, Gruenwald M, Haji-Akbari A, Ibáñez M, Karg M, Kraus T, Lee B, Van Lehn RC, Macfarlane RJ, Mognetti BM, Nikoubashman A, Osat S, Prezhdo OV, Rotskoff GM, Saiz L, Shi AC, Skrabalak S, Smalyukh II, Tagliazucchi M, Talapin DV, Tkachenko AV, Tretiak S, Vaknin D, Widmer-Cooper A, Wong GCL, Ye X, Zhou S, Rabani E, Engel M, Travesset A. Nanocrystal Assemblies: Current Advances and Open Problems. ACS NANO 2024; 18:14791-14840. [PMID: 38814908 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
We explore the potential of nanocrystals (a term used equivalently to nanoparticles) as building blocks for nanomaterials, and the current advances and open challenges for fundamental science developments and applications. Nanocrystal assemblies are inherently multiscale, and the generation of revolutionary material properties requires a precise understanding of the relationship between structure and function, the former being determined by classical effects and the latter often by quantum effects. With an emphasis on theory and computation, we discuss challenges that hamper current assembly strategies and to what extent nanocrystal assemblies represent thermodynamic equilibrium or kinetically trapped metastable states. We also examine dynamic effects and optimization of assembly protocols. Finally, we discuss promising material functions and examples of their realization with nanocrystal assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos L Bassani
- Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Greg van Anders
- Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Uri Banin
- Institute of Chemistry and the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Dmitry Baranov
- Division of Chemical Physics, Department of Chemistry, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Qian Chen
- University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Marjolein Dijkstra
- Soft Condensed Matter & Biophysics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, 3584 CC Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michael S Dimitriyev
- Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Efi Efrati
- Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
- James Franck Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Jordi Faraudo
- Institut de Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), Campus de la UAB, E-08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oleg Gang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - Nicola Gaston
- The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Ramin Golestanian
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, UK
| | - G Ivan Guerrero-Garcia
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, 78295 San Luis Potosí, México
| | - Michael Gruenwald
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
| | - Amir Haji-Akbari
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA
| | - Maria Ibáñez
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Matthias Karg
- Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tobias Kraus
- INM - Leibniz-Institute for New Materials, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
- Saarland University, Colloid and Interface Chemistry, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Byeongdu Lee
- X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - Reid C Van Lehn
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53717, USA
| | - Robert J Macfarlane
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Bortolo M Mognetti
- Center for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arash Nikoubashman
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V., 01069 Dresden, Germany
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Saeed Osat
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPI-DS), 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Oleg V Prezhdo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, USA
| | - Grant M Rotskoff
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Leonor Saiz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - An-Chang Shi
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M1, Canada
| | - Sara Skrabalak
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Ivan I Smalyukh
- Department of Physics and Chemical Physics Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA
- International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City 739-0046, Japan
| | - Mario Tagliazucchi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EHA Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428 Argentina
| | - Dmitri V Talapin
- Department of Chemistry, James Franck Institute and Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
- Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Alexei V Tkachenko
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973, USA
| | - Sergei Tretiak
- Theoretical Division and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
| | - David Vaknin
- Iowa State University and Ames Lab, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
| | - Asaph Widmer-Cooper
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- The University of Sydney Nano Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Gerard C L Wong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xingchen Ye
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Nanoscience and Biomedical Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701, USA
| | - Eran Rabani
- Department of Chemistry, University of California and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Center of Computational Molecular and Materials Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Michael Engel
- Institute for Multiscale Simulation, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alex Travesset
- Iowa State University and Ames Lab, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA
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Modin A, Leheny RL, Serra F. Spatial Photo-Patterning of Nematic Liquid Crystal Pretilt and its Application in Fabricating Flat Gradient-Index Lenses. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2310083. [PMID: 38301718 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Liquid crystals offer a dynamic platform for developing advanced photonics and soft actuation systems due to their unique and facile tunability and reconfigurability. Achieving precise spatial patterning of the liquid crystal alignment is critical to developing electro-optical devices, programmable origami, directed colloidal assembly, and controlling active matter. Here, a simple method is demonstrated to achieve continuous 3D control of the directions of liquid crystal mesogens using a two-step photo-exposure process. In the first step, polarized light sets the orientation in the plane of confining substrates; the second step uses unpolarized light of a prescribed dose to set the out-of-plane orientation. The method enables smoothly varying orientational patterns with sub-micrometer precision. As a demonstration, the setup is used to create gradient-index lenses with parabolic refractive index profiles that remain stable without external electric fields. The lenses' focal length and sensitivity to light polarization are characterized through experimental and numerical methods. The findings pave the way for developing next-generation photonic devices and actuated materials, with potential applications in molecular self-assembly, re-configurable optics, and responsive matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvin Modin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Robert L Leheny
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Francesca Serra
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, DK-5230, Denmark
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Chang SS, Wu KH, Liu SJ, Lin ZK, Wu JB, Ge SJ, Chen LJ, Chen P, Hu W, Xu Y, Chen H, He D, Yang DQ, Jiang JH, Lu YQ, Chen JH. Electrical tuning of branched flow of light. Nat Commun 2024; 15:197. [PMID: 38172091 PMCID: PMC10764866 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44500-8] [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: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Branched flows occur ubiquitously in various wave systems, when the propagating waves encounter weak correlated scattering potentials. Here we report the experimental realization of electrical tuning of the branched flow of light using a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) system. We create the physical realization of the weakly correlated disordered potentials of light via the inhomogeneous orientations of the NLC. We demonstrate that the branched flow of light can be switched on and off as well as tuned continuously through the electro-optical properties of NLC film. We further show that the branched flow can be manipulated by the polarization of the incident light due to the optical anisotropy of the NLC film. The nature of the branched flow of light is revealed via the unconventional intensity statistics and the rapid fidelity decay along the light propagation. Our study unveils an excellent platform for the tuning of the branched flow of light which creates a testbed for fundamental physics and offers a new way for steering light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Shan Chang
- Institute of Electromagnetics and Acoustics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Ke-Hui Wu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Si-Jia Liu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Zhi-Kang Lin
- School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Jin-Bing Wu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shi-Jun Ge
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Peng Chen
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Wei Hu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yadong Xu
- School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Huanyang Chen
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Dahai He
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Da-Quan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Information Photonics and Optical Communications, School of Information and Communication Engineering, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, 100876, China
| | - Jian-Hua Jiang
- School of Physical Science and Technology & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Jin-Hui Chen
- Institute of Electromagnetics and Acoustics, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
- Innovation Laboratory for Sciences and Technologies of Energy Materials of Fujian Province (IKKEM), Xiamen, 361005, China.
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4
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Pieranski P, Zeghal M, Godinho MH, Judeinstein P, Bouffet-Klein R, Liagre B, Rouger N. Topological Metadefects: Tangles of Dislocations. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:128101. [PMID: 37802936 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.128101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The concept of topological defects is universal. In condensed matter, it applies to disclinations, dislocations, or vortices that are fingerprints of symmetry breaking during phase transitions. Using as a generic example the tangles of dislocations, we introduce the concept of topological metadefects, i.e., defects made of defects. We show that in cholesterics, dextrogyre and levogyre primary tangles are generated through the D_{2}→C_{2} symmetry breaking from the coplanar dislocation pair called Lehmann cluster submitted to a high enough tensile strain. The primary tangles can be wound up individually into double helices. They can also annihilate in pairs or associate into tangles of higher orders following simple algebraic rules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Pieranski
- Université Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Mehdi Zeghal
- Université Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Maria Helena Godinho
- i3N/CENIMAT, Department of Materials Science, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Campus de Caparica, Caparica 2829 - 516, Portugal
| | | | | | - Bastien Liagre
- ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicodème Rouger
- ENS Paris-Saclay, 4 Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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5
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Katayama K, Yoshimura T, Yamashita S, Teratani H, Murakami T, Suzuki H, Fukuda JI. Formation of topological defects at liquid/liquid crystal interfaces in micro-wells controlled by surfactants and light. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6578-6588. [PMID: 37603438 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00838j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Topological defects, the fundamental entities arising from symmetry-breaking, have captivated the attention of physicists, mathematicians, and materials scientists for decades. Here we propose and demonstrate a novel method for robust control of topological defects in a liquid crystal (LC), an ideal testbed for the investigation of topological defects. A liquid layer is introduced on the LC in microwells in a microfluidic device. The liquid/LC interface facilitates the control of the LC alignment thereby introducing different molecules in the liquid/LC phase. A topological defect is robustly formed in a microwell when the liquid/LC interface and the microwell surface impose planar and homeotropic alignment, respectively. We also demonstrate the formation/disappearance of topological defects by light illumination, realized by dissolving photo-responsive molecules in the LC. Our platform that facilitates the control of LC topological defects by the introduction of different molecules and external stimuli could have potential for sensor applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Katayama
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Takuro Yoshimura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Saki Yamashita
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Hiroto Teratani
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Tomoki Murakami
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suzuki
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Fukuda
- Department of Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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6
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Zhao H, Malomed BA, Smalyukh II. Topological solitonic macromolecules. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4581. [PMID: 37516736 PMCID: PMC10387112 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40335-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Being ubiquitous, solitons have particle-like properties, exhibiting behaviour often associated with atoms. Bound solitons emulate dynamics of molecules, though solitonic analogues of polymeric materials have not been considered yet. Here we experimentally create and model soliton polymers, which we call "polyskyrmionomers", built of atom-like individual solitons characterized by the topological invariant representing the skyrmion number. With the help of nonlinear optical imaging and numerical modelling based on minimizing the free energy, we reveal how topological point defects bind the solitonic quasi-atoms into polyskyrmionomers, featuring linear, branched, and other macromolecule-resembling architectures, as well as allowing for encoding data by spatial distributions of the skyrmion number. Application of oscillating electric fields activates diverse modes of locomotion and internal vibrations of these self-assembled soliton structures, which depend on symmetry of the solitonic macromolecules. Our findings suggest new designs of soliton meta matter, with a potential for the use in fundamental research and technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanqing Zhao
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Boris A Malomed
- Department of Physical Electronics, School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, and Center for Light-Matter Interaction, Tel Aviv University, P.O.B. 39040, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Instituto de Alta Investigación, Universidad de Tarapacá, Casilla 7D, Arica, Chile
| | - Ivan I Smalyukh
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
- International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM²), Hiroshima University, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8526, Japan.
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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7
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Zhang SY, Wang YF, Shen D, Luo DB, Zheng ZG. Deflecting and routing nematicons via orientation programmable liquid crystal array. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:20955-20964. [PMID: 37381207 DOI: 10.1364/oe.486203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
By designing a liquid crystal cell with comb electrode structure, the alignment modulation of nematic liquid crystal in the cell can be realized after the electric field is applied. In different orientation regions, the incident laser beam can deflect at different angles. At the same time, by changing the incident angle of the laser beam, the reflection modulation of the laser beam on the interface of the liquid crystal molecular orientation change can be realized. Based on the above discussion, we then demonstrate the modulation of liquid crystal molecular orientation arrays on nematicon pairs. In different orientation regions of liquid crystal molecules, nematicon pairs can exhibit various combinations of deflections, and these deflection angles are modulable under external fields. Deflection and modulation of nematicon pairs have potential applications in optical routing and optical communication.
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8
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Sebastián N, Lovšin M, Berteloot B, Osterman N, Petelin A, Mandle RJ, Aya S, Huang M, Drevenšek-Olenik I, Neyts K, Mertelj A. Polarization patterning in ferroelectric nematic liquids via flexoelectric coupling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3029. [PMID: 37230977 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38749-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic liquids incorporate to the functional combination of fluidity, processability and anisotropic optical properties of nematic liquids, an astonishing range of physical properties derived from the phase polarity. Among them, the remarkably large values of second order optical susceptibility encourage to exploit these new materials for non-linear photonic applications. Here we show that photopatterning of the alignment layer can be used to structure polarization patterns. To do so, we take advantage of the flexoelectric effect and design splay structures that geometrically define the polarization direction. We demonstrate the creation of periodic polarization structures and the possibility of guiding polarization by embedding splay structures in uniform backgrounds. The demonstrated capabilities of polarization patterning, open a promising new route for the design of ferroelectric nematic based photonic structures and their exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matija Lovšin
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Brecht Berteloot
- Liquid Crystals and Photonics Group, ELIS Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Natan Osterman
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Petelin
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Richard J Mandle
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Satoshi Aya
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingjun Huang
- South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Emergent Soft Matter, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Irena Drevenšek-Olenik
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kristiaan Neyts
- Liquid Crystals and Photonics Group, ELIS Department, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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9
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Jiang J, Wang X, Akomolafe OI, Tang W, Asilehan Z, Ranabhat K, Zhang R, Peng C. Collective transport and reconfigurable assembly of nematic colloids by light-driven cooperative molecular reorientations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221718120. [PMID: 37040402 PMCID: PMC10119998 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221718120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomotors in nature have inspired scientists to design synthetic molecular motors to drive the motion of microscale objects by cooperative action. Light-driven molecular motors have been synthesized, but using their cooperative reorganization to control the collective transport of colloids and to realize the reconfiguration of colloidal assembly remains a challenge. In this work, topological vortices are imprinted in the monolayers of azobenzene molecules which further interface with nematic liquid crystals (LCs). The light-driven cooperative reorientations of the azobenzene molecules induce the collective motion of LC molecules and thus the spatiotemporal evolutions of the nematic disclination networks which are defined by the controlled patterns of vortices. Continuum simulations provide physical insight into the morphology change of the disclination networks. When microcolloids are dispersed in the LC medium, the colloidal assembly is not only transported and reconfigured by the collective change of the disclination lines but also controlled by the elastic energy landscape defined by the predesigned orientational patterns. The collective transport and reconfiguration of colloidal assemblies can also be programmed by manipulating the irradiated polarization. This work opens opportunities to design programmable colloidal machines and smart composite materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Jiang
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong99999, China
| | | | - Wentao Tang
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong99999, China
| | - Zhawure Asilehan
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, China
| | - Kamal Ranabhat
- Department of Physics and Materials Science, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN38152
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong99999, China
| | - Chenhui Peng
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui230026, China
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