Controlling Liquid Crystal Configuration and Phase Using Multiple Molecular Triggers.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Soft Matter Physics
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Liquid crystals are "smart" materials that translate local molecular events into macroscopic state changes.
• Investigating novel amphiphiles for controlled liquid crystal droplet behavior in aqueous environments is crucial for developing advanced materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore a novel polymeric amphiphile's ability to trigger phase transitions in liquid crystal droplets.
• To investigate the combined effects of the novel amphiphile and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on liquid crystal phase behavior and hysteresis.

Main Methods:

• Microscopy with crossed polarizers to observe phase changes.
• Optical tweezers to manipulate and probe liquid crystal droplets.
• Controlled introduction of polymeric amphiphiles and SDS to aqueous liquid crystal systems.

Main Results:

• The monomeric amphiphile induced rapid phase changes, including nematic to isotropic transitions.
• The presence of the novel polymeric amphiphile reversed the hysteresis observed with SDS-induced surface activity.
• Demonstrated control over liquid crystal phase and configuration changes using multiple chemical triggers.

Conclusions:

• Novel polymeric amphiphiles can effectively trigger and control liquid crystal phase transitions.
• The developed amphiphiles can modulate or eliminate hysteresis in surfactant-induced transitions.
• This research highlights the potential of tailored molecular triggers for advanced liquid crystal applications.