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Preparation of Monodomain Liquid Crystal Elastomers and Liquid Crystal Elastomer Nanocomposites
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Thermal response of cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers
1Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|September 19, 2015
Summary
Temperature changes alter photonic properties in cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs). Mechanical constraints prevent these shifts, revealing a strong link between CLCE dimensions and helical pitch.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Science
- Optics
Background:
- Cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs) exhibit unique photonic properties.
- Temperature variations can influence the structure and optical behavior of CLCEs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of temperature on the photonic properties of CLCEs.
- To explore the role of mechanical constraints on temperature-induced changes in CLCEs.
Main Methods:
- Investigated CLCEs in both unconstrained and constrained geometries.
- Analyzed selective reflection band shifts and macroscopic expansion.
- Utilized the anisotropic Gaussian chain network model.
Main Results:
- Unconstrained CLCEs showed a blue shift in reflection bands upon cooling, accompanied by expansion.
- Thermal deformation correlated with changes in nematic order (S).
- Constrained CLCEs exhibited no reflection band shift with temperature changes.
Conclusions:
- Macroscopic dimensions of CLCEs are strongly correlated with their helical pitch.
- Mechanical constraints prevent temperature-induced photonic property changes in CLCEs.
- The anisotropic Gaussian chain network model explains thermal deformation mechanisms.
