1
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Li CY, Tang XZ, Yu X, Atzin N, Song ZP, Chen CQ, Abbott NL, Li BX, de Pablo JJ, Lu YQ. Command of three-dimensional solitary waves via photopatterning. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2405168121. [PMID: 39196620 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2405168121] [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: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Multidimensional solitons are prevalent in numerous research fields. In orientationally ordered soft matter system, three-dimensional director solitons exemplify the localized distortion of molecular orientation. However, their precise manipulation remains challenging due to unpredictable and uncontrolled generation. Here, we utilize preimposed programmable photopatterning in nematics to control the kinetics of director solitons. This enables both unidirectional and bidirectional generation at specific locations and times, confinement within micron-scaled patterns of diverse shapes, and directed propagation along predefined trajectories. A focused dynamical model provides insight into the origins of these solitons and aligns closely with experimental observations, underscoring the pivotal role of anchoring conditions in soliton manipulation. Our findings pave the way for diverse fundamental research avenues and promising applications, including microcargo transportation and optical information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Yi Li
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xing-Zhou Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Xiao Yu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Noe Atzin
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Zhen-Peng Song
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chu-Qiao Chen
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Bing-Xiang Li
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Center for Molecular Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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2
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Wu KH, Zhu LT, Xiao FF, Hu X, Li SS, Chen LJ. Light-regulated soliton dynamics in liquid crystals. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7217. [PMID: 39174533 PMCID: PMC11341711 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51383-w] [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: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrically powered solitons are particle-like field configurations in out-of-equilibrium nematics that have garnered significant interest. However, their random generation and lack of controllable motion have limited their application. Here, we present a reconfigurable optoelectronic approach capable of regulating the entire lifecycle of solitons by utilizing multi-strategy digital light projection to construct delicate patterning of virtual electrode. We demonstrate that optically actuated domains with diverse geometry enable the generation of multiple solitons and further allow in-situ formation of individual soliton by matching the light pattern to its dimension. Exquisitely engineered light intensity of patterns facilitates modulation of soliton velocity and transformation of propagating direction. The utilization of a light-guided channel enables the on-demand control of soliton trajectories along customized paths. Furthermore, dynamic light patterns that vary in space and time allow for collective motion such as migration, mimicking phototaxis in biological systems. This reconfigurable manipulation strategy, grounded in the photoconductive effect, proves highly versatile and effective in directing soliton dynamics, heralding the potential for their programmable control and offering a significant advantage in multitasking scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Hui Wu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Li-Ting Zhu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fang-Fang Xiao
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xuejia Hu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Sen-Sen Li
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Laser Technology and Applications, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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3
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Tang X, Atzin N, Mozaffari A, Das S, Abbott NL, de Pablo JJ. Generation and Propagation of Flexoelectricity-Induced Solitons in Nematic Liquid Crystals. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10768-10775. [PMID: 38597971 PMCID: PMC11044575 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Solitons in nematic liquid crystals facilitate the rapid transport and sensing in microfluidic systems. Little is known about the elementary conditions needed to create solitons in nematic materials. In this study, we apply a combination of theory, computational simulations, and experiments to examine the formation and propagation of solitary waves, or "solitons", in nematic liquid crystals under the influence of an alternating current (AC) electric field. We find that these solitary waves exhibit "butterfly"-like or "bullet"-like structures that travel in the direction perpendicular to the applied electric field. Such structures propagate over long distances without losing their initial shape. The theoretical framework adopted here helps identify several key factors leading to the formation of solitons in the absence of electrostatic interactions. These factors include surface irregularities, flexoelectric polarization, unequal elastic constants, and negative anisotropic dielectric permittivity. The results of simulations are shown to be in good agreement with our own experimental observations, serving to establish the validity of the theoretical concepts and ideas advanced in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzhou Tang
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, The University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- College
of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Noe Atzin
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, The University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ali Mozaffari
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, The University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- OpenEye
Scientific, Cadence Molecular Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Soumik Das
- Smith
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, India
| | - Nicholas L. Abbott
- Smith
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Juan J. de Pablo
- Pritzker
School of Molecular Engineering, The University
of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Center
for Molecular Engineering, Argonne National
Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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4
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Atzin N, Mozaffari A, Tang X, Das S, Abbott NL, de Pablo JJ. Minimal Model of Solitons in Nematic Liquid Crystals. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:188101. [PMID: 37977640 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.188101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Solitons in liquid crystals have generated considerable interest. Several hypotheses of varying complexity have been advanced to explain how they arise, but consensus has not emerged yet about the underlying forces responsible for their formation or their structure. In this work, we present a minimal model for solitons in achiral nematic liquid crystals, which reveals the key requirements needed to generate them in the absence of added charges. These include a surface inhomogeneity, consisting of an adsorbed particle capable of producing a twist, flexoelectricity, dielectric contrast, and an applied ac electric field that can couple to the director's orientation. Our proposed model is based on a tensorial representation of a confined liquid crystal, and it predicts the formation of "butterfly" structures, quadrupolar in character, in regions of a slit channel where the director is twisted by the surface imperfection. As the applied electric field is increased, solitons (or "bullets") become detached from the wings of the butterfly, and then propagate rapidly throughout the system. The main observations that emerge from the model, including the formation and structure of butterflies, bullets, and stripes, as well as the role of surface inhomogeneity and the strength of the applied field, are consistent with experimental findings presented here for nematic LCs confined between two chemically treated parallel plates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noe Atzin
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Ali Mozaffari
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
- OpenEye, Cadence Molecular Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Xingzhou Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Soumik Das
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, 208016, India
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
- Center for Molecular Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, USA
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5
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Das S, Atzin N, Tang X, Mozaffari A, de Pablo J, Abbott NL. Jetting and Droplet Formation Driven by Interfacial Electrohydrodynamic Effects Mediated by Solitons in Liquid Crystals. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 131:098101. [PMID: 37721844 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.131.098101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Solitons are highly confined, propagating waves that arise from nonlinear feedback in natural (e.g., shallow and confined waters) and engineered systems (e.g., optical wave propagation in fibers). Solitons have recently been observed in thin films of liquid crystals (LCs) in the presence of ac electric fields, where localized LC director distortions arise and propagate due to flexoelectric polarization. Here we report that collisions between LC solitons and interfaces to isotropic fluids can generate a range of interfacial hydrodynamic phenomena. We find that single solitons can either generate single droplets or, alternatively, form jets of LC that subsequently break up into organized assemblies of droplets. We show that the influence of key parameters, such as electric field strength, LC film thickness, and LC-oil interfacial tension, map onto a universal state diagram that characterizes the transduction of soliton flexoelectric energy into droplet interfacial energy. Overall, we reveal that solitons in LCs can be used to focus the energy of nonlocalized electric fields to generate a new class of nonlinear electrohydrodynamic effects at fluid interfaces, including jetting and emulsification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Das
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Noe Atzin
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Xingzhou Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Ali Mozaffari
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Juan de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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6
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Shen Y, Dierking I. Annealing and melting of active two-dimensional soliton lattices in chiral nematic films. SOFT MATTER 2022; 18:7045-7050. [PMID: 36043486 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm00815g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this work, thousands of electrically driven dissipative solitons, called directrons, are generated in a chiral nematic liquid crystal. The directrons start with random motions but soon synchronize their motions and self-organize into a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice. The directron lattice moves collectively and forms a hexatic phase. By increasing the applied voltage, the lattice exhibits a first-order hexatic-to-liquid phase transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Shen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Ingo Dierking
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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7
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Ma LL, Li CY, Pan JT, Ji YE, Jiang C, Zheng R, Wang ZY, Wang Y, Li BX, Lu YQ. Self-assembled liquid crystal architectures for soft matter photonics. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2022; 11:270. [PMID: 36100592 PMCID: PMC9470592 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-00930-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled architectures of soft matter have fascinated scientists for centuries due to their unique physical properties originated from controllable orientational and/or positional orders, and diverse optic and photonic applications. If one could know how to design, fabricate, and manipulate these optical microstructures in soft matter systems, such as liquid crystals (LCs), that would open new opportunities in both scientific research and practical applications, such as the interaction between light and soft matter, the intrinsic assembly of the topological patterns, and the multidimensional control of the light (polarization, phase, spatial distribution, propagation direction). Here, we summarize recent progresses in self-assembled optical architectures in typical thermotropic LCs and bio-based lyotropic LCs. After briefly introducing the basic definitions and properties of the materials, we present the manipulation schemes of various LC microstructures, especially the topological and topographic configurations. This work further illustrates external-stimuli-enabled dynamic controllability of self-assembled optical structures of these soft materials, and demonstrates several emerging applications. Lastly, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of these materials towards soft matter photonics, and envision future perspectives in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ling Ma
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Chao-Yi Li
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Jin-Tao Pan
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Yue-E Ji
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Chang Jiang
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Ren Zheng
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Ze-Yu Wang
- 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, 210023, China
| | - Yu Wang
- 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, 210023, China.
| | - Bing-Xiang Li
- 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, 210023, China.
- College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, 210023, 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, 210023, China.
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8
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Guo YQ, Chu F, Li BX, Zhang YX, Shen TZ, Duan W, Liu C, Sun YB, Wang QH. Unidirectional collective transport of microspheres in nematic liquid crystal by electrically tunable reorientation. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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9
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Electrically tunable collective motion of dissipative solitons in chiral nematic films. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2122. [PMID: 35440645 PMCID: PMC9018705 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29831-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
From the motion of fish and birds, to migrating herds of ungulates, collective motion has attracted people for centuries. Active soft matter exhibits a plethora of emergent dynamic behaviors that mimic those of biological systems. Here we introduce an active system composed of dynamic dissipative solitons, i.e. directrons, which mimics the collective motion of living systems. Although the directrons are inanimate, artificial particle-like solitonic field configurations, they locally align their motions like their biological counterparts. Driven by external electric fields, hundreds of directrons are generated in a chiral nematic film. They start with random motions but self-organize into flocks and synchronize their motions. The directron flocks exhibit rich dynamic behaviors and induce population density fluctuations far larger than those in thermal equilibrium systems. They exhibit “turbulent” swimming patterns manifested by transient vortices and jets. They even distinguish topological defects, heading towards defects of positive topological strength and avoiding negative ones. Understanding of the collective motion seen in biological systems is crucial for development of autonomous robots and swarm computing. The authors introduce an experimental platform with liquid crystal driven by external electric field, that mimics the collective motion of living systems.
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Das S, Roh S, Atzin N, Mozaffari A, Tang X, de Pablo JJ, Abbott NL. Programming Solitons in Liquid Crystals Using Surface Chemistry. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:3575-3584. [PMID: 35263108 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
AC electric fields cause three-dimensional orientational fluctuations (solitons) to form and rapidly propagate in confined films of liquid crystals (LCs), offering the basis of a new class of active soft matter (e.g., for accelerating mixing and transport processes in microscale chemical systems). How surface chemistry impacts the formation and trajectories of solitons, however, is not understood. Here, we show that self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed from alkanethiols on gold, which permit precise control over surface chemistry, are electrochemically stable over voltage and frequency windows (<100 V; 1 kHz) that lead to soliton formation in achiral nematic films of 4'-butyl-4-heptyl-bicyclohexyl-4-carbonitrile (CCN-47). By comparing soliton formation in LC films confined by SAMs formed from hexadecanethiol (C16SH) or pentadecanethiol (C15SH), we reveal that the electric field required for soliton formation increases with the LC anchoring energy: surfaces patterned with regions of C16SH and C15SH SAMs thus permit spatially controlled creation and annihilation of solitons necessary to generate a net flux of solitons. We also show that solitons propagate in orthogonal directions when confined by obliquely deposited gold films decorated with SAMs formed from C16SH or C15SH and that the azimuthal direction of propagation of solitons within achiral LC films possessing surface-induced twists is not unique but reflects variation in the spatial location of the solitons across the thickness of the twisted LC film. Finally, discontinuous changes in LC orientation induced by patterned surface anchoring lead to a range of new soliton behaviors including refraction, reflection, and splitting of solitons at the domain boundaries. Overall, our results provide new approaches for the controlled generation and programming of solitons with complex and precise trajectories, principles that inform new designs of chemical soft matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Das
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Sangchul Roh
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Noe Atzin
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ali Mozaffari
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Center for Molecular Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Xingzhou Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Nicholas L Abbott
- Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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11
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Recent Progresses on Experimental Investigations of Topological and Dissipative Solitons in Liquid Crystals. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12010094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Solitons in liquid crystals have received increasing attention due to their importance in fundamental physical science and potential applications in various fields. The study of solitons in liquid crystals has been carried out for over five decades with various kinds of solitons being reported. Recently, a number of new types of solitons have been observed, among which, many of them exhibit intriguing dynamic behaviors. In this paper, we briefly review the recent progresses on experimental investigations of solitons in liquid crystals.
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12
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Lavrentovich OD. Design of nematic liquid crystals to control microscale dynamics. LIQUID CRYSTALS REVIEWS 2021; 8:59-129. [PMID: 34956738 PMCID: PMC8698256 DOI: 10.1080/21680396.2021.1919576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of small particles, both living such as swimming bacteria and inanimate, such as colloidal spheres, has fascinated scientists for centuries. If one could learn how to control and streamline their chaotic motion, that would open technological opportunities in the transformation of stored or environmental energy into systematic motion, with applications in micro-robotics, transport of matter, guided morphogenesis. This review presents an approach to command microscale dynamics by replacing an isotropic medium with a liquid crystal. Orientational order and associated properties, such as elasticity, surface anchoring, and bulk anisotropy, enable new dynamic effects, ranging from the appearance and propagation of particle-like solitary waves to self-locomotion of an active droplet. By using photoalignment, the liquid crystal can be patterned into predesigned structures. In the presence of the electric field, these patterns enable the transport of solid and fluid particles through nonlinear electrokinetics rooted in anisotropy of conductivity and permittivity. Director patterns command the dynamics of swimming bacteria, guiding their trajectories, polarity of swimming, and distribution in space. This guidance is of a higher level of complexity than a simple following of the director by rod-like microorganisms. Namely, the director gradients mediate hydrodynamic interactions of bacteria to produce an active force and collective polar modes of swimming. The patterned director could also be engraved in a liquid crystal elastomer. When an elastomer coating is activated by heat or light, these patterns produce a deterministic surface topography. The director gradients define an activation force that shapes the elastomer in a manner similar to the active stresses triggering flows in active nematics. The patterned elastomer substrates could be used to define the orientation of cells in living tissues. The liquid-crystal guidance holds a major promise in achieving the goal of commanding microscale active flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg D Lavrentovich
- Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Department of Physics, Materials Science Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
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13
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Garbovskiy Y. Conventional and unconventional ionic phenomena in tunable soft materials made of liquid crystals and nanoparticles. NANO EXPRESS 2021. [DOI: 10.1088/2632-959x/abe652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
A great variety of tunable multifunctional materials can be produced by combining nanoparticles and liquid crystals. Typically, the tunability of such soft nanocomposites is achieved via external electric fields resulting in the field-induced reorientation of liquid crystals. This reorientation can be altered by ions normally present in liquid crystals in small quantities. In addition, nanomaterials dispersed in liquid crystals can also affect the behavior of ions. Therefore, an understanding of ionic phenomena in liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles is essential for future advances in liquid crystal-aided nanoscience and nanotechnology. This paper provides an overview of the ionic effects observed in liquid crystals doped with nanomaterials. An introduction to liquid crystals is followed by a brief overview of nanomaterials in liquid crystals. After giving a basic description of ions in liquid crystals and experimental methods to measure them, a wide range of ionic phenomena in liquid crystals doped with different types of nanomaterials is discussed. After that, both existing and emerging applications of tunable soft materials made of liquid crystals and nanodopants are presented with an emphasis on the role of ionic effects in such systems. Finally, the discussion of unsolved problems and future research directions completes the review.
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