Exploration of elastomeric and polymeric liquid crystals with photothermal actuation: A review

Abstract

Recent research in soft materials is an exhilarating category which has been transcending boundaries for variety of functional applications. This category also stems liquid crystals whose stimuli-responsive feature has fantasized researchers for application arrays in actuators and biomedical. Liquid crystals evince dual characteristics of liquid and solids empowering them to reversibly transit on external actuation. The after-effect of irradiating photons on liquid crystals (LC) facilitate outlying functioning and are engineered with gold nanorods, dyes, graphene and carbon nanotubes among others which greets to incoming stimulus and participates in transference of light energy to perceivable transformation through heat drive. This is progressively explored in medical domain for drug delivery, tissue engineering, cancer treatment, and other disciplines of medicine and bio-mimicking. Additionally, photothermal trigger equips localized punctilious treatment outshining diffusion assisted heating and enables spot treatment. However, LC utilization is burgeoning towards 3D printing, dyes ipa graphen sib tals (LC) bly tr quid crysta sit feature ha als nctio as f is an ex pli @gma ail.c manian K J, Un d eering, R ted Kin Rober e, Girinagar, characterizing it as 4D Printing. Present review framework probes LC and its photothermal actuation chemistry in the medical domain. Furthermore, it reflects on LC potential in smart manufacturing in 3D/4D printing, its challenges (limited concentration of filler, its miscibility, and actuation cycle fatigue) and future likelihood.

Self‐Assembly and Molecular Electrical Switching Property of Phthalocyanine‐Based Liquid‐Crystalline Poly(Styrene Sulfonic Acid) Compounds

“…[ 1 ] Liquid crystals show order fluidity at molecular or macroscopic levels, therefore the self‐assembly characteristics of supramolecular systems can produce amazing functional materials. [ 2–4 ] LC materials have been widely used in industry, military affairs, medicine, and our daily life up to now, furthermore they will provide infinite possibilities for more applications in this era of information or intelligence. [ 5 ] Discoid LC materials with planar discoid structure including phthalocyanine (Pc)‐based molecules can form ordered LC molecular under certain conditions, which can be applied to the field of electronic materials such as discotic liquid‐crystalline semiconductors.…”

Shape memory elastomers: A review of synthesis, design, advanced manufacturing, and emerging applications

“…Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) form another class of elastomeric polymers, which have been developed since 1888 141,142 . These elastomers have been used as stimuli‐responsive materials due to their ability to reverse shapes in response to external stimuli such as heat and UV 143,144 .…”

“…135 Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) form another class of elastomeric polymers, which have been developed since 1888. 141,142 These elastomers have been used as stimuli-responsive materials due to their ability to reverse shapes in response to external stimuli such as heat and UV. 143,144 This class of polymeric materials has gained attention to promote shape memory effects due to its suitable molecular structure and distinctive transition temperatures.…”

Multiscale Phase Behaviors of Nematic Solids: A Short Review

“…A large number of mesogen types, therefore, can be exploited in a way to modulate the phase behavior of the solid. A more comprehensive overview of the mesogen types can be found in the recent review of Rastogi et al [42] (Fig. 3).…”