1
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Jie H, Feng K, Lu M, Jin Z. Modulation of Tannic Acid on the Cholesteric Structure of Cellulose Nanocrystals. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:13834-13843. [PMID: 38920318 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The chiral nematic phase structure, formed by the self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in an aqueous suspension and maintained in a solid film, shows great potential for optical applications. To achieve complex structures in optical devices, it is crucial to subject CNCs to specific shearing processes, such as spinning and printing. Understanding the structural and property changes of the CNC liquid crystal phase in these processes is of utmost importance. In this study, we investigated the effect of adding tannic acid (TA) on the rheological properties and cholesteric phase structures of CNCs/TA mixed suspensions. By calculating the surface site interaction points, we observed that TA can adsorb onto the surface of CNC rods in suspensions through hydrogen bonding. Through characterization techniques, such as polarized optical microscopy, rheology, and synchrotron SAXS, we examined the effects of TA addition on the microstructure and rheological properties of the CNC liquid crystal phase and clarified the change relating to the system composition. Under the same CNC concentration, the volume fraction of the anisotropic phase, the pitch, and the rod spacing of the cholesteric phase were not significantly affected by the addition of TA. However, the system viscosity was significantly reduced with the appropriate amount of TA (2 wt %), in a wide range of CNC concentrations (up to 15 wt % CNCs). The flow indexes (n) in Region I and Region III of steady-state shear curves of CNCs/TA systems (11-15 wt % CNCs) were compared. Moreover, we introduced the well-established theoretical models for liquid crystal polymers to tentatively interpret Region I of the CNCs/TA cholesteric phase and realized that increased numbers of smaller cholesteric-phase domains in the CNCs/TA system and interfacial modification by TA may contribute to the fluidity change. The feature of the domain texture of CNCs/TA systems is verified by polarized optical microscopy observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jie
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Kai Feng
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Mengfan Lu
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Zhaoxia Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
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2
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Frka-Petesic B, Parton TG, Honorato-Rios C, Narkevicius A, Ballu K, Shen Q, Lu Z, Ogawa Y, Haataja JS, Droguet BE, Parker RM, Vignolini S. Structural Color from Cellulose Nanocrystals or Chitin Nanocrystals: Self-Assembly, Optics, and Applications. Chem Rev 2023; 123:12595-12756. [PMID: 38011110 PMCID: PMC10729353 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Widespread concerns over the impact of human activity on the environment have resulted in a desire to replace artificial functional materials with naturally derived alternatives. As such, polysaccharides are drawing increasing attention due to offering a renewable, biodegradable, and biocompatible feedstock for functional nanomaterials. In particular, nanocrystals of cellulose and chitin have emerged as versatile and sustainable building blocks for diverse applications, ranging from mechanical reinforcement to structural coloration. Much of this interest arises from the tendency of these colloidally stable nanoparticles to self-organize in water into a lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystal, which can be readily manipulated in terms of its periodicity, structure, and geometry. Importantly, this helicoidal ordering can be retained into the solid-state, offering an accessible route to complex nanostructured films, coatings, and particles. In this review, the process of forming iridescent, structurally colored films from suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is summarized and the mechanisms underlying the chemical and physical phenomena at each stage in the process explored. Analogy is then drawn with chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs), allowing for key differences to be critically assessed and strategies toward structural coloration to be presented. Importantly, the progress toward translating this technology from academia to industry is summarized, with unresolved scientific and technical questions put forward as challenges to the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Frka-Petesic
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- International
Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM), Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Thomas G. Parton
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Camila Honorato-Rios
- Department
of Sustainable and Bio-inspired Materials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Aurimas Narkevicius
- B
CUBE − Center for Molecular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Kevin Ballu
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Qingchen Shen
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Zihao Lu
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Ogawa
- CERMAV-CNRS,
CS40700, 38041 Grenoble cedex 9, France
| | - Johannes S. Haataja
- Department
of Applied Physics, Aalto University School
of Science, P.O. Box
15100, Aalto, Espoo FI-00076, Finland
| | - Benjamin E. Droguet
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Richard M. Parker
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Vignolini
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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3
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Shen S, Qin X, Feng H, Xie S, Yi Z, Jin M, Zhou G, Akinoglu EM, Mulvaney P, Shui L. Electro-Microfluidic Assembly Platform for Manipulating Colloidal Structures inside Water-in-Oil Emulsion Droplets. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203341. [PMID: 36169113 PMCID: PMC9661862 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal assembly is a key strategy in nature and artificial device. Hereby, an electromicrofluidic assembly platform (eMAP) is proposed and validated to achieve 3D colloidal assembly and manipulation within water droplets. The water-in-oil emulsion droplets autoposition in the eMAP driven by dielectrophoresis, where the (di)electrowetting effect induces droplet deformation, facilitating quadratic growth of the electric field in water droplet to achieve "far-field" dielectrophoretic colloidal assembly. Reconfigurable 3D colloidal configurations are observed and dynamically programmed via applied electric fields, colloidal properties, and droplet size. Binary and ternary colloidal assemblies in one droplet allow designable chemical and physical anisotropies for functional materials and devices. Integration of eMAP in high throughput enables mass production of functional microcapsules, and programmable optoelectronic units for display devices. This eMAP is a valuable reference for expanding fundamental and practical exploration of colloidal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shitao Shen
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Qin
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
| | - Haoqiang Feng
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
| | - Shuting Xie
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
| | - Zichuan Yi
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
| | - Mingliang Jin
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
- International Academy of Optoelectronics at ZhaoqingSouth China Normal UniversityZhaoqingGuangdong526238P. R. China
| | - Guofu Zhou
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
- International Academy of Optoelectronics at ZhaoqingSouth China Normal UniversityZhaoqingGuangdong526238P. R. China
| | - Eser Metin Akinoglu
- International Academy of Optoelectronics at ZhaoqingSouth China Normal UniversityZhaoqingGuangdong526238P. R. China
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton ScienceSchool of ChemistryUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVIC3010Australia
| | - Paul Mulvaney
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton ScienceSchool of ChemistryUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVIC3010Australia
| | - Lingling Shui
- International Joint Laboratory of Optofluidic Technology and SystemNational Centre for International Research on Green OptoelectronicsSouth China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics & School of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nanophotonic Functional Materials and DevicesSchool of Information and Optoelectronic Science and EngineeringSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhou510006P. R. China
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4
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Guo JK, Gao Y, Ling J, Yuan Y, Wang X, Song JK. Laser processing of microdroplet structure of liquid crystal in 3D. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:26018-26026. [PMID: 36236800 DOI: 10.1364/oe.459332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Processing of mesoscale structures of soft matter and liquid is of great importance in both science and engineering. In this work, we introduce the concept of laser-assisted micromachining to this field and inject a certain number of microdroplets into a preselected location on the surface of a liquid crystal drop through laser irradiation. The impact of laser energy on the triggered injection is discussed. The sequentially injected microdroplets are spontaneously captured by the defect ring in the host drop and transported along this defect track as micro-cargos. By precisely manipulating the laser beam, the tailored injection of droplets is achieved, and the injected droplets self-assemble into one necklace ring within the host drop. The result provides a bottom-up approach for the in-situ and three-dimensional microfabrication of droplet structure of soft matter using a laser beam, which may be applicable in the development of optical and photonic devices.
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Chen Z, Kheiri S, Young EWK, Kumacheva E. Trends in Droplet Microfluidics: From Droplet Generation to Biomedical Applications. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:6233-6248. [PMID: 35561292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, droplet microfluidics has attracted growing interest in biology, medicine, and engineering. In this feature article, we review the advances in droplet microfluidics, primarily focusing on the research conducted by our group. Starting from the introduction to the mechanisms of microfluidic droplet formation and the strategies for cell encapsulation in droplets, we then focus on droplet transformation into microgels. Furthermore, we review three biomedical applications of droplet microfluidics, that is, 3D cell culture, single-cell analysis, and in vitro organ and disease modeling. We conclude with our perspective on future directions in the development of droplet microfluidics for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengkun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6
| | - Sina Kheiri
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G8
| | - Edmond W K Young
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 3G8
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Roseburgh Building, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3H6
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Roseburgh Building, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
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6
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Gontrani L, Tagliatesta P, Donia DT, Bauer EM, Bonomo M, Carbone M. Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Inorganic Materials Using Environmentally Friendly Media. Molecules 2022; 27:2045. [PMID: 35408444 PMCID: PMC9000861 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep Eutectic Solvents have gained a lot of attention in the last few years because of their vast applicability in a large number of technological processes, the simplicity of their preparation and their high biocompatibility and harmlessness. One of the fields where DES prove to be particularly valuable is the synthesis and modification of inorganic materials-in particular, nanoparticles. In this field, the inherent structural inhomogeneity of DES results in a marked templating effect, which has led to an increasing number of studies focusing on exploiting these new reaction media to prepare nanomaterials. This review aims to provide a summary of the numerous and most recent achievements made in this area, reporting several examples of the newest mixtures obtained by mixing molecules originating from natural feedstocks, as well as linking them to the more consolidated methods that use "classical" DES, such as reline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Gontrani
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Pietro Tagliatesta
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Domenica Tommasa Donia
- Department of Surgical Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Elvira Maria Bauer
- Italian National Research Council-Institute of Structure of Matter (CNR-ISM), Via Salaria km 29.3, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy;
| | - Matteo Bonomo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, NIS Interdepartmental Centre and INSTM Reference Centre, University of Turin, Via Pietro Giuria 7, 10125 Turin, Italy;
| | - Marilena Carbone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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7
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An H, Smith JW, Ji B, Cotty S, Zhou S, Yao L, Kalutantirige FC, Chen W, Ou Z, Su X, Feng J, Chen Q. Mechanism and performance relevance of nanomorphogenesis in polyamide films revealed by quantitative 3D imaging and machine learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabk1888. [PMID: 35196079 PMCID: PMC8865778 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biological morphogenesis has inspired many efficient strategies to diversify material structure and functionality using a fixed set of components. However, implementation of morphogenesis concepts to design soft nanomaterials is underexplored. Here, we study nanomorphogenesis in the form of the three-dimensional (3D) crumpling of polyamide membranes used for commercial molecular separation, through an unprecedented integration of electron tomography, reaction-diffusion theory, machine learning (ML), and liquid-phase atomic force microscopy. 3D tomograms show that the spatial arrangement of crumples scales with monomer concentrations in a form quantitatively consistent with a Turing instability. Membrane microenvironments quantified from the nanomorphologies of crumples are combined with the Spiegler-Kedem model to accurately predict methanol permeance. ML classifies vastly heterogeneous crumples into just four morphology groups, exhibiting distinct mechanical properties. Our work forges quantitative links between synthesis and performance in polymer thin films, which can be applicable to diverse soft nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyosung An
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - John W. Smith
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bingqiang Ji
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Stephen Cotty
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Lehan Yao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | | | - Wenxiang Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zihao Ou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Xiao Su
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jie Feng
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Materials Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
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8
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Li M, Ma Z, Pan C, Zhang X, Zhang W, Yang B, Li Y. Chemical Fuel Mediated Self-Regulatory Polymer Brushes for Autonomous Fluorescence Modulator and Wettability Switcher. Macromol Rapid Commun 2022; 43:e2100878. [PMID: 35080275 DOI: 10.1002/marc.202100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic systems of non-equilibrium self-assembly have made considerable progress, however, the achievement of innovative materials with self-regulated functions analogous to living systems remains a grand challenge. Herein, we report a versatile non-equilibrium system of polymer brushes with spatiotemporally programmable properties and functions driven by chemical fuels. By combining a responsive polymer with an autonomous pH regulator, the polymer brushes self-regulate their swelling and deswelling process with tunable lifetimes. By using patterned copolymer brushes with pH-responsive fluorescence moiety, we create an autonomous fluorescence modulator that self-regulates its fluorescence in spatiotemporally programmable fashion driven by a chemical or an enzymatic reaction. Furthermore, we implement a self-regulated wettability switcher of polymer brushes both in air and in an aqueous solution. The methodology and results in this work provide a useful avenue into the exploration of non-equilibrium synthetic materials with programmable functions and would accelerate the transformative developments of non-equilibrium materials and systems in practical applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Ziwen Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Chunyu Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoye Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Wenke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Bai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
| | - Yunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, P. R. China
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9
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Prince E, Wang Y, Smalyukh II, Kumacheva E. Cylindrical Confinement of Nanocolloidal Cholesteric Liquid Crystal. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:8243-8250. [PMID: 34259528 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c04387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The organization of nanocolloidal liquid crystals in constrained geometries has fundamental and practical importance, since under confinement, liquid crystals contain stable topological defects that can serve as templates for nanoparticle organization. Three-dimensional confinement of cholesteric (Ch) liquid crystals formed by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been extensively studied; however, their two-dimensional confinement remains under-investigated. Here, we report the results of systematic experimental studies of two-dimensional confinement of Ch-CNC liquid crystal in cylindrical capillaries with varying inner diameters. Confinement resulted in phase separation of the Ch-CNC liquid crystal into a Ch shell formed by concentric CNC pseudolayers with the helicoidal axis perpendicular to the inner surface of the capillary walls, and a micrometer-diameter isotropic core thread running parallel to the long axis of the capillary. The morphology of the confined Ch-CNC liquid crystal varied when progressively increasing the degree confinement. Finally, we show that phase separation of the Ch-CNC liquid crystal into a Ch shell and an isotropic core is preserved in flexible capillary tubing, suggesting the applicability of this system for the fabrication of flexible optical waveguides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Yongliang Wang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Ivan I Smalyukh
- Department of Physics and Soft Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States.,Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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10
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Zentner C, Concellón A, Swager TM. Controlled Movement of Complex Double Emulsions via Interfacially Confined Magnetic Nanoparticles. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2020; 6:1460-1466. [PMID: 32875087 PMCID: PMC7453569 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.0c00686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Controlled, dynamic movement of materials through noncontacting forces provides interesting opportunities in systems design. Confinement of magnetic nanoparticles to the interfaces of double emulsions introduces exceptional control of double emulsion movement. We report the selective magnetic functionalization of emulsions by the in situ selective reactions of amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles and oil-soluble aldehydes at only one of the double emulsion's interfaces. We demonstrate morphology-dependent macroscopic ferromagnetic behavior of emulsions induced by the interfacial confinement of the magnetic nanoparticles. The attraction and repulsion of the emulsions to applied magnetic fields results in controlled orientation changes and rotational movement. Furthermore, incorporation of liquid crystals into the double emulsions adds additional templating capabilities for precision assembly of magnetic nanoparticles, both along the interface and at point defects. Applying a magnetic field to liquid crystal complex emulsions can produce movement as well as reorganization of the director field in the droplets. The combination of interfacial chemistry and precise assembly of magnetic particles creates new systems with potentially useful field-responsive properties.
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11
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Prince E, Narayanan P, Chekini M, Pace-Tonna C, Roberts MG, Zhulina E, Kumacheva E. Solvent-Mediated Isolation of Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles. Macromolecules 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.0c00643] [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]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Prince
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Pournima Narayanan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Mahshid Chekini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Carleigh Pace-Tonna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Megan G. Roberts
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Zhulina
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 199004, Russia
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
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