Light responsive liquid crystal soft matters: structures, properties, and applications

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive soft matters have been recognised by many scientists and engineers as very important because of their inherent characteristics in response to environmental changes. In particular, there has been much progress over the last few years on light-responsive soft matters that can respond remotely. By controlling the packing behaviours and the physical properties of the photoresponsive liquid crystal (LC) molecules, the application field is expanding, including the use in flexible polarisers, patterned objects, logic devices, biomimetic photonic crystals and energy harvesting materials. This review discusses the general concept of azobenzene-based LC compounds from small molecules to macromolecules and their corresponding structural evolutions in solid states. Finally, we identify the challenges faced in the research of photoresponsive organic materials and present future applications.

Liquid crystal behavior of cellulose nanoparticles‐ethyl cellulose composites: Preparation, characterization, and rheology

“…[17][18][19][20][21] Nowadays, LC materials have great attention due to its promising application in science and engineering. [22][23][24] It considers the forth state of matter at which the material liquid-like and crystalline at the same time. The LC mesophases possess some properties of solid such as optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, periodic arrangement of molecules in one or more spatial directions.…”

Liquid Crystal Elastomers for Biological Applications

“…A reduction to the order parameter, via external stimuli, reduces the anisotropy of the backbone shape and, therefore, results in a reversible macroscopic shape change. These changes in order can result from the application of external stimuli, such as the application of heat, electric fields, or even light [ 21 ].…”

Photopatterning of Azobenzene‐Containing Liquid Crystalline Triblock Copolymers: Light‐Induced Anisotropy and Photostabilization

“…[8] In the PLCBCs, the result of the light action is the orientation of the block containing photochromes, which opens up interesting possibilities for tuning the optical properties of PLCBCs films for application in optics and optoelectronics. [28][29][30][31][32] It is important…”

“…[ 8 ] In the PLCBCs, the result of the light action is the orientation of the block containing photochromes, which opens up interesting possibilities for tuning the optical properties of PLCBCs films for application in optics and optoelectronics. [ 28–32 ] It is important to note that LC (mesogenic groups) and photochromic groups can be linked together in each macromolecule of block copolymers by covalent bonds or by using hydrogen bonding. [ 24–26,33 ] Due to the advancement of polymer synthetic strategies and techniques including controlled living polymerization with facile post‐polymerization ‐functionalization, a variety of block copolymers with precisely controlled molecular weight and well‐defined macromolecular architectures can be prepared.…”