Themed collection Liquid Crystals Science and Technology

A series of polysiloxane grafted with thermotropic fluorinated mesogens (TSCPFLCP) is designed and synthesized, which effectively improves the processability and toughness of LLDPE.

Here a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) was introduced into a PEEK/CF system as a new solution to simultaneously promote processing and mechanical performance of PEEK/CF and other polymer-based composites.

Thermotropic liquid crystalline copolyesters (Co-TLCPs) were synthesized by varying the hydroquinone (HQ) molar ratio from 1–5 with respect to the 2,5-diethoxyterephthalic acid (ETA) monomer.

Nickel-mediated Yamamoto coupling provides a concise and efficient synthesis of triphenylene derivatives, including electron-deficient discotic mesogens.

Naked-eye color change as a result of temperature change or VOC exposure was demonstrated in a nematic polymer network-stabilized liquid crystal (PNLC) system.

Four new series of chalcones containing imidazole bromonium and benzimidazole bromonium salts with spacer alkyl chains (C_n, n = 2 and 4) were synthesized and their chemical structure, thermal behavior, photoluminescence and gas sensing ability were characterized.

Anticounterfeiting photonic bilayer DH-CLC_solid films were fabricated by sandwiching two CLC_solid films having different handedness. The encrypted information is only disclosed under right-handed circular polarized light.

A novel liquid crystal homologous series based on the benzene sulphonic acid moiety, namely (E)-4-((4-((4-(alkoxy)benzoyl)oxy)benzylidene)amino)benzenesulfonic acid (Sn), was synthesized and examined via different experimental and theoretical measurements.

When the prepared cholesteric liquid crystal microcapsule is applied to the skin, it can protect the skin by selectively reflecting only ultraviolet rays in sunlight like sunscreen cosmetics.

Graphene oxide liquid crystals with long-range highly ordered GO flakes were successfully prepared by a designed coat-hanger die.

We describe the influence of competing self-organizing phenomena on the formation of cholesteric mesophase in liquid crystalline brush block terpolymers (LCBBTs) and liquid crystalline random brush terpolymers (LCRBTs) containing chromonic molecules.

A Janus-type lamellar structure is formed from gold nanoparticles grafted with chemically incompatible mesogenic ligands. Metallic NP-rich sublayers are separated by ligand-rich sublayers of various composition due to the ligand segregation.

Stabilization of the nematic twist-band phase by arrays of multiple nonspecific short-range intermolecular interactions.

Herein, a directional fusion of ellipsoidal morphologies into nanorods and nanotubes was demonstrated through the study of polymerization-induced self-assembly behaviors of semi-fluorinated liquid-crystalline block copolymers.

A polymer stabilized LC based light waveguide display is reported. Performance is improved by patterned photo-polymerization or electrode. It has high brightness, ultrafast switching time, high contrast ratio, and high transmittance for transparent and augmented displays.

Organic–inorganic hybrid liquid crystals of azopyridines enabled by halogen bonding with the triple functions of degree of orientation change, MEF, and SERS towards sensing silver in aquatic environment.

A vacuum-coupling technique is suggested to fabricate a glass-based PDLC, without using a roll-to-roll process, to improve the optical properties.

The FTIR spectra overlay of compounds 5a–j with Schiff base and amide linking units.

The concept of mimicking structural colour in nature as an alternative to traditional textile coloration techniques would reduce dependency on dyes, pigments and vast quantities of water in the textile supply chain.

ILCs consisting of cationic head group–spacer–fluorenone central core–side chain show de Vries-like behaviour.

The liquid crystal forces generated by nanowires and nanotubes are different due to their heterotopicity for the liquid crystal director.

A photo-controllable rotational motion was demonstrated for an isolated cholesteric liquid crystalline droplet in a surfactant solution.

The modified Debus–Radziszewski reaction was used as a one-pot on-water reaction to allow a greener synthesis of long-chain 1,3-dialkylimidazolium acetate ionic liquids in high yield from long-chain linear amines.

We report on the synthesis, phase behaviour and photoswitching studies of new azo linked rod-shaped molecules.

The presence of small water-soluble additives makes it possible to tune the surfactant gel-to-liquid crystalline (L_β–L_α) phase transition temperature (T_m) for a bilayer-forming cationic surfactant system and its phase behavior on dilution.

The novelty of this work lies in the valorization of an original by-product into new sugar-based surfactants presenting effective properties.

L-DOPA modulates the dive in mechanism of bicelles with potential use as drug delivery systems.

Spatial distribution of QDs within hybrid composite films was programed by varying the molecular architecture of the host LC block copolymers.

DSC thermograms of some prepared compounds: (a) recorded from second heating and (b) from cooling at a rate of ±10 °C min⁻¹.

A robust and photo-responsive organogel has been constructed by introducing an azobenzene-containing main-chain liquid crystalline polymer gelator.

Saturn ring dyads (left) mediate more stable colloidal interactions than Saturn ring triads (right) in nematic-phase discotic dispersions.