Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Synthesis of Biocompatible Liquid Crystal Elastomer Foams as Cell Scaffolds for 3D Spatial Cell Cultures
Published on: April 11, 2017
Laser Rewritable Dichroics through Reconfigurable Organic Charge-Transfer Liquid Crystals
Madeline Van Winkle1, David A Scrymgeour2, Bryan Kaehr2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Denison University, Granville, OH, 43023, USA.
Abstract:
Charge-transfer materials based on the self-assembly of aromatic donor-acceptor complexes enable a modular organic-synthetic approach to develop and fine-tune electronic and optical properties, and thus these material systems stand to impact a wide range of technologies. Through laser-induction of temperature gradients, in this study, user-defined patterning of strongly dichroic and piezoelectric organic thin films composed of donor-acceptor columnar liquid crystals is shown. Fine, reversible control over isotropic versus anisotropic regions in thin films is demonstrated, enabling noncontact writing/rewriting of micropolarizers, bar codes, and charge-transfer based devices.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms
Types of Genetic Transfer Between Organisms
Ionic Crystal Structures
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Formal Charges
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Atomic Radii and Effective Nuclear Charge

