Mesostructure and orientation control of lyotropic liquid crystals in a polysiloxane matrix
AbstractAs a preparation method for organic inorganic or mesoporous inorganic materials via sol gel condensation of a metal alkoxide, the combination of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) and sol gel chemistry is a versatile tool to fabricate various nanostructures. Despite previous investigations into such systems, no attempt has been made to utilize the dynamic switching functions of such nanostructures via the phase transition of LLCs in films. A polysiloxane containing an amine hydrochloride group and a vinyl group was recently synthesized. By controlling the relative humidity, we achieved the phase transition of LLCs and on demand UV curing of LLC phases in the polysiloxane film. We further developed vertically oriented organic inorganic nanochannels by using p p interactions between discotic molecules and the substrate surface or the spontaneous vertical alignment of LLC containing azobenzene units.A method to control on demand phase transition and alignment of organic inorganic hybrid containing lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) have been developed. By using polysiloxane containing hygroscopicity and photocrosslinking groups, the phase transition of the LLCs can be induced by changes in humidity. The phase transition behavior of the LLCs in polysiloxane can be suppressed by light irradiation. Further, the author proposed new methods for vertically aligning nanochannels by using surface interaction or the spontaneous vertical aligned nature, and photopatterning of chromonic dye aggregates.
Polymer Journal