From Cellulosic Based Liquid Crystalline Sheared Solutions to 1D and 2D Soft Materials

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Liquid crystalline cellulosic solutions exhibit unique properties, forming chiral nematic phases and director field defects under shear.
• These solutions are precursors to multifunctional materials with tunable photonic behavior and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore recent advancements in liquid crystalline cellulosic materials.
• To highlight innovative applications derived from these materials, including motors and electro-optical devices.

Main Methods:

• Characterization techniques include Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Rheology coupled with NMR (Rheo-NMR), rheology, optical methods, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Wide Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS), X-rays, tensile tests, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
• Fabrication methods include shear casting for films and electrospinning for fibers.

Main Results:

• Cellulosic films and fibers derived from liquid crystalline solutions possess innovative properties and biocompatibility.
• Electrospun membranes with helical fibers offer large surface areas, enhancing system performance.
• Shear-casted films demonstrate moisture response, light modulation, tunable wettability, and the ability to orient protein and cellulose crystals.

Conclusions:

• Liquid crystalline cellulosic materials offer a wide range of new applications due to their unique properties and processability.
• Recent developments focus on advanced applications like moisture-driven motors and electro-optical devices, leveraging the inherent characteristics of these cellulosic systems.