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Gârlea IC, Dammone O, Alvarado J, Notenboom V, Jia Y, Koenderink GH, Aarts DGAL, Lettinga MP, Mulder BM. Colloidal Liquid Crystals Confined to Synthetic Tactoids. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20391. [PMID: 31892707 PMCID: PMC6938498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56729-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
When a liquid crystal forming particles are confined to a spatial volume with dimensions comparable to that of their own size, they face a complex trade-off between their global tendency to align and the local constraints imposed by the boundary conditions. This interplay may lead to a non-trivial orientational patterns that strongly depend on the geometry of the confining volume. This novel regime of liquid crystalline behavior can be probed with colloidal particles that are macro-aggregates of biomolecules. Here we study director fields of filamentous fd-viruses in quasi-2D lens-shaped chambers that mimic the shape of tactoids, the nematic droplets that form during isotropic-nematic phase separation. By varying the size and aspect ratio of the chambers we force these particles into confinements that vary from circular to extremely spindle-like shapes and observe the director field using fluorescence microscopy. In the resulting phase diagram, next to configurations predicted earlier for 3D tactoids, we find a number of novel configurations. Using Monte Carlo Simulations, we show that these novel states are metastable, yet long-lived. Their multiplicity can be explained by the co-existence of multiple dynamic relaxation pathways leading to the final stable states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana C Gârlea
- AMOLF, Department of Living Matter, Amsterdam, 1098XG, The Netherlands. .,University of Vienna, Faculty of Physics, Vienna, A-1090, Austria.
| | - Oliver Dammone
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - José Alvarado
- AMOLF, Department of Living Matter, Amsterdam, 1098XG, The Netherlands
| | - Valerie Notenboom
- AMOLF, Department of Living Matter, Amsterdam, 1098XG, The Netherlands
| | - Yunfei Jia
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-3), Jülich, 52425, Germany
| | - Gijsje H Koenderink
- AMOLF, Department of Living Matter, Amsterdam, 1098XG, The Netherlands.,Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft, 2629HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk G A L Aarts
- University of Oxford, Department of Chemistry, Oxford, OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - M Paul Lettinga
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-3), Jülich, 52425, Germany. .,KU Leuven, Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics, Leuven, B-300, Belgium.
| | - Bela M Mulder
- AMOLF, Department of Living Matter, Amsterdam, 1098XG, The Netherlands
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2
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Luo J, Zeng M, Peng B, Tang Y, Zhang L, Wang P, He L, Huang D, Wang L, Wang X, Chen M, Lei S, Lin P, Chen Y, Cheng Z. Electrostatic-Driven Dynamic Jamming of 2D Nanoparticles at Interfaces for Controlled Molecular Diffusion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201807372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Luo
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina; Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Minxiang Zeng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Baoliang Peng
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina; Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Yijie Tang
- Department of Chemistry; Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh PA 15213 USA
| | - Lecheng Zhang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Pingmei Wang
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina; Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Lipeng He
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina; Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC; Beijing 100083 China
| | - Dali Huang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Ling Wang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Xuezhen Wang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Mingfeng Chen
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Shijun Lei
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Pengcheng Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter; School of Materials and Energy; Guangdong University of Technology; Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Ying Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter; School of Materials and Energy; Guangdong University of Technology; Guangdong 510006 China
| | - Zhengdong Cheng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering; Texas A&M University; College Station TX 77843 USA
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3
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Luo J, Zeng M, Peng B, Tang Y, Zhang L, Wang P, He L, Huang D, Wang L, Wang X, Chen M, Lei S, Lin P, Chen Y, Cheng Z. Electrostatic-Driven Dynamic Jamming of 2D Nanoparticles at Interfaces for Controlled Molecular Diffusion. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:11752-11757. [PMID: 29987910 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201807372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Dynamically engineering the interfacial interaction of nanoparticles has emerged as a new approach for bottom-up fabrication of smart systems to tailor molecular diffusion and controlled release. Janus zwitterionic nanoplates are reported that can be switched between a locked and unlocked state at interfaces upon changing surface charge, allowing manipulation of interfacial properties in a fast, flexible, and switchable manner. Combining experimental and modeling studies, an unambiguous correlation is established among the electrostatic energy, the interface geometry, and the interfacial jamming states. As a proof-of-concept, the well-controlled interfacial jamming of nanoplates enabled the switchable molecular diffusion through liquid-liquid interfaces, confirming the feasibility of using nanoparticle-based surfactants for advanced controlled release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhui Luo
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina, Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Minxiang Zeng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Baoliang Peng
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina, Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yijie Tang
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Lecheng Zhang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Pingmei Wang
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina, Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Lipeng He
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development (RIPED), PetroChina, Key Laboratory of Nano Chemistry (KLNC), CNPC, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dali Huang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Ling Wang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Xuezhen Wang
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Mingfeng Chen
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Shijun Lei
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Pengcheng Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Zhengdong Cheng
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Roscioni OM, Zannoni C. Molecular Dynamics Simulations and their Application to Thin-film Devices. UNCONVENTIONAL THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAICS 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/9781782624066-00391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The performance of devices based on organic semiconductors strongly depends on the molecular organisation in thin films. Due to the intrinsic complexity of these systems, a combination of theoretical modelling and experimental techniques is often the key to achieve a full understanding of their inner working. Here, we introduce the modelling of organic semiconductors by means of molecular dynamics simulations. We describe the basic theoretical framework of the technique and review the most popular class of force fields used to model organic materials, paying particular attention to the peculiarities of confined systems like nano-thick films. Representative studies of the organisation of organic functional materials in thin film phases are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otello Maria Roscioni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari”, Università di Bologna viale Risorgimento 4 40136 Bologna Italy
| | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari”, Università di Bologna viale Risorgimento 4 40136 Bologna Italy
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Carlton R, Zayas-Gonzalez YM, Manna U, Lynn DM, Abbott NL. Surfactant-induced ordering and wetting transitions of droplets of thermotropic liquid crystals "caged" inside partially filled polymeric capsules. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2014; 30:14944-53. [PMID: 24911044 PMCID: PMC4270404 DOI: 10.1021/la501596b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Revised: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report a study of the wetting and ordering of thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) droplets that are trapped (or "caged") within micrometer-sized cationic polymeric microcapsules dispersed in aqueous solutions of surfactants. When they were initially dispersed in water, we observed caged, nearly spherical droplets of E7, a nematic LC mixture, to occupy ∼40% of the interior volume of the polymeric capsules [diameter of 6.7 ± 0.3 μm, formed via covalent layer-by-layer assembly of branched polyethylenimine and poly(2-vinyl-4,4-dimethylazlactone)] and to contact the interior surface of the capsule wall at an angle of ∼157 ± 11°. The internal ordering of LC within the droplets corresponded to the so-called bipolar configuration (distorted by contact with the capsule walls). While the effects of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the internal ordering of "free" LC droplets are similar, we observed the two surfactants to trigger strikingly different wetting and configurational transitions when LC droplets were caged within polymeric capsules. Specifically, upon addition of SDS to the aqueous phase, we observed the contact angles (θ) of caged LC on the interior surface of the capsule to decrease, resulting in a progression of complex droplet shapes, including lenses (θ ≈ 130 ± 10°), hemispheres (θ ≈ 89 ± 5°), and concave hemispheres (θ < 85°). The wetting transitions induced by SDS also resulted in changes in the internal ordering of the LC to yield states topologically equivalent to axial and radial configurations. Although topologically equivalent to free droplets, the contributions that surface anchoring, LC elasticity, and topological defects make to the free energy of caged LC droplets differ from those of free droplets. Overall, these results and others reported herein lead us to conclude that caged LC droplets offer a platform for new designs of LC-droplet-based responsive soft matter that cannot be realized in dispersions of free droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca
J. Carlton
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Yashira M. Zayas-Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Uttam Manna
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - David M. Lynn
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
| | - Nicholas L. Abbott
- Department of Chemical and
Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Roscioni OM, Muccioli L, Della Valle RG, Pizzirusso A, Ricci M, Zannoni C. Predicting the anchoring of liquid crystals at a solid surface: 5-cyanobiphenyl on cristobalite and glassy silica surfaces of increasing roughness. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2013; 29:8950-8. [PMID: 23597166 DOI: 10.1021/la400857s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We employ atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to predict the alignment and anchoring strength of a typical nematic liquid crystal, 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyano biphenyl (5CB), on different forms of silica. In particular, we study a thin (~20 nm) film of 5CB supported on surfaces of crystalline (cristobalite) and amorphous silica of different roughness. We find that the orientational order at the surface and the anchoring strength depend on the morphology of the silica surface and its roughness. Cristobalite yields a uniform planar orientation and increases the order at the surface with respect to the bulk whereas amorphous glass has a disordering effect. Despite the low order at the amorphous surfaces, a planar orientation is established with a persistence length into the film higher than the one obtained for cristobalite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otello Maria Roscioni
- Diartimento di Chimica Industriale Toso Montanari and INSTM, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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7
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Bhattacharya P, Sahoo D, Chakravorti S. Revisit of 4,4′-Diaminodiphenyl Sulfone Photophysics in Different Solvents. Ind Eng Chem Res 2012. [DOI: 10.1021/ie201113b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Prosenjit Bhattacharya
- Department
of Spectroscopy, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032,
India
| | - Dibakar Sahoo
- Department
of Spectroscopy, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032,
India
| | - Sankar Chakravorti
- Department
of Spectroscopy, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032,
India
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Zayat M, Pardo R, Castellón E, Torres L, Almendro D, Parejo PG, Álvarez A, Belenguer T, García-Revilla S, Balda R, Fernández J, Levy D. Optical and electro-optical materials prepared by the sol-gel method. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2011; 23:5318-5323. [PMID: 22299148 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201101927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
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9
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Castellón E, Chavarría M, de Lorenzo V, Zayat M, Levy D. An electro-optical device from a biofilm structure created by bacterial activity. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2010; 22:4846-4850. [PMID: 20717993 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201001986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Erick Castellón
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (ICMM-CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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