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Hussain S, Zourob M. Solid-State Cholesteric Liquid Crystals as an Emerging Platform for the Development of Optical Photonic Sensors. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2304590. [PMID: 37800619 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, solid-state cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCsolid ) have emerged as a promising photonic material, heralding new opportunities for the advancement of optical photonic biosensors and actuators. The periodic helical structure of CLCsolid s gives rise to their distinctive capability of selectively reflecting incident radiation, rendering them highly promising contenders for a wide spectrum of photonic applications. Extensive research is conducted on utilizing CLCsolid 's optical characteristics to create optical sensors for bioassays, diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. This review provides an overview of emerging technologies in the field of interpenetrating polymeric network-CLCsolid (IPN) and CLCsolid -based optical sensors, including their structural designs, processing, essential materials, working principles, and fabrication methodologies. The review concludes with a forward-looking perspective, addressing current challenges and potential trajectories for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saddam Hussain
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Alfaisal University, Al-Maather, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Zourob
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Alfaisal University, Al-Maather, Riyadh, 11533, Saudi Arabia
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Meng Q, Wang X, Zhang B, Qian S, Peng B, Zhou H, Su B, Zhang C. Magnetic induced terahertz modulation characteristics based on ferromagnetic nematic liquid crystals. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 289:122232. [PMID: 36525811 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.122232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, solid state terahertz (THz) modulators have obtained rapid progress with the widespread use of two-dimensional (2D) materials in the field of THz; however, challenges remain in preparing flexible THz modulators. In this study, flexible ferromagnetic nematic materials were prepared by doping thermotropic nematic liquid crystals 5CB into magnetic fluids, and the influence of water was reduced by a self-made cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microfluidic chip. THz modulation characteristics of magnetic fluid and ferromagnetic nematic liquid crystal (FNLC) under the induction of external magnetic field were compared using a THz time domain spectroscopy system. Under the action of a 91 mT magnetic field, the magnetic fluid has a maximum modulation depth (MD) of 54%. Under the same magnetic field, the maximum MD of the FNLC materials increase to 78% because of the rearrangement of Fe3O4 nanoparticles induced by the topological defect of the liquid crystal. We demonstrate that the magneto-optical effect is significantly enhanced in the ferromagnetic nematic liquid crystal hybrid system. This strategy of doping thermotropic nematic liquid crystals to enhance the magneto-optical effect has great potential for THz filtering, modulation, and sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghao Meng
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Xueyan Wang
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Boyan Zhang
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Siyu Qian
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Hangyu Zhou
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Bo Su
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Cunlin Zhang
- Department of Physics, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Terahertz Spectroscopy and Imaging, Beijing 100048, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Imaging Theory and Technology, Beijing 100048, China; Key Laboratory of Terahertz Optoelectronics, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
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Gregorin Ž, Sebastián N, Osterman N, Hribar Boštjančič P, Lisjak D, Mertelj A. Dynamics of domain formation in a ferromagnetic fluid. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.120308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Vats A, Banerjee V, Puri S. Domain growth in ferronematics: slaved coarsening, emergent morphologies and growth laws. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:2659-2674. [PMID: 33533368 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01888k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ferronematics (FNs) are suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles in nematic liquid crystals (NLCs). They have attracted much experimental attention, and are of great interest both scientifically and technologically. There are very few theoretical studies of FNs, even in equilibrium. In this paper, we study the non-equilibrium phenomenon of domain growth after a thermal quench (or coarsening) in this coupled system. Our modeling is based on coupled time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations for two order parameters: the LC tensor order parameter Q, and the magnetization M. We consider both shallow and deep quenches from a high-temperature disordered phase. The system coarsens by the collision and annihilation of topological defects. We focus on slaved coarsening, where a disordered Q (or M) field is driven to coarsen by an ordered M (or Q) field. We present detailed results for the morphologies and growth laws, which exhibit unusual features purely due to the magneto-nematic coupling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of non-equilibrium phenomena in FNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Vats
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi - 110016, India
| | - Varsha Banerjee
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi - 110016, India
| | - Sanjay Puri
- School of Physical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi - 110067, India.
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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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