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Photonic Shape Memory Polymer Based on Liquid Crystalline Blue Phase Films
Jiajia Yang1,2, Weidong Zhao1, Zhou Yang1
1Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering , University of Science and Technology Beijing , Beijing 100083 , China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 13, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed photonic shape memory polymers using liquid crystalline blue phase films. These films exhibit tunable colors via mechanical pressure and can be rewritten, showing potential for rewritable photonic papers and sensors.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Optics
Background:
- Liquid crystalline blue phase (BP) materials exhibit unique photonic properties.
- Shape memory (SM) polymers offer tunable mechanical and physical characteristics.
- Combining BP and SM properties can lead to novel photonic devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate freestanding photonic shape memory polymers utilizing liquid crystalline blue phase films.
- To investigate the relationship between mechanical deformation, photonic band gap shifts, and shape recovery.
- To explore the potential applications of these materials as rewritable photonic papers and optical sensors.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of BP films via self-assembly and photopolymerization of liquid crystal mixtures.
- Programming SM properties through mechanical compression at varying pressures.
- Characterization of optical properties (photonic band gap, reflectivity) and structural changes using 3D interferometry.
- Thermal analysis to determine glass-transition temperature for shape recovery.
Main Results:
- Freestanding BP films with narrow photonic band gaps and high visible reflectivity were successfully fabricated.
- Mechanical pressure induced a blue-shift in colors due to decreased BP pitch, confirmed by 3D interferometry.
- Films recovered original shape and color upon heating above glass-transition temperature.
- Reversible writing and erasing of photonic patterns over dozens of cycles without degradation were demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Photonic shape memory polymers based on BP films exhibit controllable and reversible optical responses to mechanical stimuli.
- The developed materials show significant promise for applications in rewritable photonic displays and advanced optical sensing technologies.
- Quantitative relationships between shape change and optical response were established, providing a foundation for further material design and application development.
