Macromol. Chem. Phys. 21/2013

Abstract

Front Cover: Cholesteric films made of liquid‐crystalline cellulose derivatives with improved optical properties are prepared. Careful choice of the solvent, hydrogen bond influencing additives, the synthetic realization of a very high degree of substitution on the cellulosic polymer, and the use of mechanical stirring in combination with a tuned substrate treatment and film‐preparation method and subsequent polymerization allow the fabrication of free standing cholesteric films of high optical quality. Further details can be found in the article by D. Wenzlik and R. Zentel* on page 2405.

Liquid Crystals of Cellulosics: Fascinating Ordered Structures for the Design of Functional Material Systems

“…The derivative 3-CF 3 -CTC in such an acrylic monomer forms a right-handed chiral nematic mesophase, imparting vivid reflection colors. The same group made efforts to tune the reflection colors of 3-CF 3 -CTC chiral nematics by careful choice of the polymerizing monomer solvent, and also to regulate other conditions for film preparation [67]. As a consequence, they acquired freestanding chiral nematic films of high optical quality, which gave a very sharp, selective reflection band (half width of~25 nm).…”

From LC‐polymers to Nanomedicines: Different Aspects of Polymer Science from a Materials Viewpoint

“…[6,30] Parallel to this work on soft LCEs, also densely crosslinked (hard) networks with cholesteric phases were studied (see Figure S7, Supporting Information). Chemically they were based on semi-interpenetrating networks from chiral rigid polymers like polyisocyantes [31] or cellulose derivatives [32,33] and isotropic polymers. They found interest as coloring agents.…”