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Money J, Munguia-Fernández JG, Norouzi S, Esmaeili M, Martínez-González JA, Sadati M. Photonic features of blue phase liquid crystals under curved confinement. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12231-12247. [PMID: 37750291 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03284a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Blue phase (BP) liquid crystals represent a fascinating state of soft matter that showcases unique optical and electro-optical properties. Existing between chiral nematic and isotropic phases, BPs are characterized by a three-dimensional cubic lattice structure resulting in selective Bragg reflections of light and consequent vivid structural colors. However, the practical realization of these material systems is hampered by their narrow thermal stability and multi-domain crystalline nature. This feature article provides an overview of the efforts devoted to stabilizing these phases and creating monodomain structures. In particular, it delves into the complex relationship between geometrical confinement, induced curvature, and the structural stability and photonic features of BPs. Understanding the interaction of curved confinement and structural stability of BPs proves crucially important for the integration of these materials into flexible and miniaturized devices. By shedding light on these critical aspects, this feature review aims to highlight the significance of understanding the coupling effects of physical and mechanical forces on the structural stability of these systems, which can pave the way for the development of efficient and practical devices based on BP liquid crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Money
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - Juan G Munguia-Fernández
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, SLP, México
| | - Sepideh Norouzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - Mohsen Esmaeili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - José A Martínez-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, SLP, México
| | - Monirosadat Sadati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
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Palacio-Betancur V, Armas-Pérez JC, Hernández-Ortiz JP, de Pablo JJ. Curvature and confinement effects on chiral liquid crystal morphologies. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6066-6073. [PMID: 37318304 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00437f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Chiral liquid crystals (ChLCs) exhibit an inherent twist that originates at the molecular scale and can extend over multiple length scales when unconstrained. Under confinement, the twist is thwarted, leading to formation of defects in the molecular order that offer distinct optical responses and opportunities for colloidal driven assembly. Past studies have explored spheroidal confinement down to the nanoscopic regime, where curved boundaries produce surface defects to accommodate topological constraints and restrict the propagation of cuboidal defect networks. Similarly, strict confinement in channels and shells has been shown to give rise to escaped configurations and skyrmions. However, little is known about the role of extrinsic curvature in the development of cholesteric textures and Blue Phases (BP). In this paper, we examine the palette of morphologies that arises when ChLCs are confined in toroidal and cylindrical cavities. The equilibrium morphologies are obtained following an annealing strategy of a Landau-de Gennes free energy functional. Three dimensionless groups are identified to build phase diagrams: the natural twist, the ratio of elastic energies, and the circumscription of a BP cell. Curvature is shown to introduce helical features that are first observed as a Double Twist, and progress to Chiral Ribbons and, ultimately, Helical BP and BP. Chiral ribbons are examined as useful candidates for driven assembly given their tunability and robustness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julio C Armas-Pérez
- División de Ciencias e Ingenierías, Campus León, Universidad de Guanajuato, Loma del Bosque 103, León (Gto.) 37150, Mexico
| | - Juan P Hernández-Ortiz
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia.
- Colombia/Wisconsin One-Health Consortium, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
- Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
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Norouzi S, Tavera-Vazquez A, Ramirez-de Arellano J, Kim DS, Lopez-Leon T, de Pablo JJ, Martinez-Gonzalez JA, Sadati M. Elastic Instability of Cubic Blue Phase Nano Crystals in Curved Shells. ACS NANO 2022; 16:15894-15906. [PMID: 36166665 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many crystallization processes, including biomineralization and ice-freezing, occur in small and curved volumes, where surface curvature can strain the crystal, leading to unusual configurations and defect formation. The role of curvature on crystallization, however, remains poorly understood. Here, we study the crystallization of blue phase (BP) liquid crystals under curved confinement, which provides insights into the mechanism by which BPs reconfigure their three-dimensional lattice structure to adapt to curvature. BPs are a three-dimensional assembly of high-chirality liquid crystal molecules arranged into body-centered (BPI) or simple cubic (BPII) symmetries. BPs with submicrometer cubic-crystalline lattices exhibit tunable Bragg reflection and submillisecond response time to external stimuli such as an electric field, making them attractive for advanced photonic materials. In this work, we have systematically studied BPs confined in spherical shells with well-defined curvature and boundary conditions. The optical behavior of shells has also been examined at room temperature, where the cholesteric structure forms. In the cholesteric phase, perpendicular anchoring generates focal conic domains on the shell's surface, which transition into stripe patterns as the degree of curvature increases. Our results demonstrate that both higher degrees of curvature and strong spatial confinement destabilize BPI and reconfigure that phase to adopt the structure and optical features of BPII. We also show that the coupling of curvature and confinement nucleates skyrmions at greater thicknesses than those observed for a flat geometry. These findings are particularly important for integrating BPs into miniaturized and curved/flexible devices, including flexible displays, wearable sensors, and smart fabrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Norouzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Antonio Tavera-Vazquez
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Johanan Ramirez-de Arellano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, San Luis Potosi México
| | - Dae Seok Kim
- Department of Polymer Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, South Korea
| | - Teresa Lopez-Leon
- Laboratoire Gulliver, UMR CNRS 7083, ESPCI Paris, Université PSL, 10 rue Vauquelin, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 Cass Avenue, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Jose A Martinez-Gonzalez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Avenida Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, San Luis Potosi México
| | - Monirosadat Sadati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
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Zhang XJ, Sun YW, Li ZW, Sun ZY. Transition kinetics of defect patterns in confined two-dimensional smectic liquid crystals. Phys Rev E 2021; 104:044704. [PMID: 34781539 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.104.044704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Topological defects in liquid crystals under confined geometries have attracted extensive research interests. Here, we perform molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the formation and transition of defect patterns in two-dimensional smectic Gay-Berne liquid crystals with a simple rectangular confinement boundary. Two typical types of defect patterns, bridge and diagonal defect patterns, are observed, which can be transformable continuously between each other over time. The transition usually starts from the line or point defect regions, and the competition between neighboring and opposite boundary effects induces the continuous realignments of the smectic layers to connect the neighboring or opposite walls. The relative stability of these two defect patterns can be controlled by changing the confinement conditions. These results deepen our understanding of transition kinetics of defect patterns in confined liquid crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yu-Wei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhan-Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhao-Yan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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Schlafmann KR, White TJ. Retention and deformation of the blue phases in liquid crystalline elastomers. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4916. [PMID: 34389708 PMCID: PMC8363666 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25112-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The blue phases are observed in highly chiral liquid crystalline compositions that nascently organize into a three-dimensional, crystalline nanostructure. The periodicity of the unit cell lattice spacing is on the order of the wavelength of visible light and accordingly, the blue phases exhibit a selective reflection as a photonic crystal. Here, we detail the synthesis of liquid crystalline elastomers that retain blue phase I, blue phase II, and blue phase III. The mechanical properties and optical reconfiguration via deformation of retained blue phases are contrasted to the cholesteric phase in fully solid elastomers with glass transition temperatures below room temperature. Mechanical deformation and chemical swelling of the lightly crosslinked polymer networks induces lattice asymmetry in the blue phase evident in the tuning of the selective reflection. The lattice periodicity of the blue phase elastomer is minimally affected by temperature. The oblique lattice planes of the blue phase tilt and red-shift in response to mechanical deformation. The retention of the blue phases in fully solid, elastomeric films could enable functional implementations in photonics, sensing, and energy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle R Schlafmann
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Timothy J White
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
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Chen HQ, Wang XY, Bisoyi HK, Chen LJ, Li Q. Liquid Crystals in Curved Confined Geometries: Microfluidics Bring New Capabilities for Photonic Applications and Beyond. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:3789-3807. [PMID: 33775094 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The quest for interesting properties and phenomena in liquid crystals toward their employment in nondisplay application is an intense and vibrant endeavor. Remarkable progress has recently been achieved with regard to liquid crystals in curved confined geometries, typically represented as enclosed spherical geometries and cylindrical geometries with an infinitely extended axial-symmetrical space. Liquid-crystal emulsion droplets and fibers are intriguing examples from these fields and have attracted considerable attention. It is especially noteworthy that the rapid development of microfluidics brings about new capabilities to generate complex soft microstructures composed of both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals. This review attempts to outline the recent developments related to the liquid crystals in curved confined geometries by focusing on microfluidics-mediated approaches. We highlight a wealth of novel photonic applications and beyond and also offer perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and new directions for future development in this emerging research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Qing Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Xi-Yuan Wang
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Hari Krishna Bisoyi
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province 361005, China
| | - Quan Li
- Institute of Advanced Materials and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 211189, China
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, United States
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Sadati M, Martinez-Gonzalez JA, Zhou Y, Qazvini NT, Kurtenbach K, Li X, Bukusoglu E, Zhang R, Abbott NL, Hernandez-Ortiz JP, de Pablo JJ. Prolate and oblate chiral liquid crystal spheroids. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba6728. [PMID: 32832603 PMCID: PMC7439570 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba6728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Liquid crystals are known to exhibit intriguing textures and color patterns, with applications in display and optical technologies. This work focuses on chiral materials and examines the palette of morphologies that arises when microdroplets are deformed into nonspherical shapes in a controllable manner. Specifically, geometrical confinement and mechanical strain are used to manipulate orientational order, phase transitions, and topological defects that arise in chiral liquid crystal droplets. Inspired by processes encountered in nature, where insects and animals often rely on strain and temperature to alter the optical appearance of dispersed liquid crystalline elements, chiral droplets are dispersed in polymer films and deformation induced by uniaxial or biaxial stretching. Our measurements are interpreted by resorting to simulations of the corresponding systems, thereby providing an in-depth understanding of the morphologies that arise in these materials. The reported structures and assemblies offer potential for applications in smart coatings, smart fabrics, and wearable sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monirosadat Sadati
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Swearingen Engineering Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jose A. Martinez-Gonzalez
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78295, SLP, México
| | - Ye Zhou
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Nader Taheri Qazvini
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Swearingen Engineering Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Khia Kurtenbach
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xiao Li
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Emre Bukusoglu
- Chemical Engineering Department, Middle East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Rui Zhang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Nicholas L. Abbott
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Hernandez-Ortiz
- Departamento de Materiales y Minerales, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín, Calle 75 # 79A-51, Bloque M17, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Juan J. de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 Cass Avenue, Lemont, IL 60439, USA
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