Reverse mode LCPG films with self-assembly support of gel networks

ABSTRACT

Liquid crystal physical gels (LCPG) with a 3D network structure show considerable promise as novel functional materials with a great impact on scientific and practical applications. LCPGs are not characterised by high hardness and high strength, but this mild nature is capable of forming dynamic supramolecular structures with the self-assembly ability of various non-covalent bonds such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, and van der Waals forces. In addition to anisotropic changes under optical and electrical stimulation, it enables to be one of the candidates for display devices. When the isotropic-anisotropic transition temperature of LCPG solution (TIA) is higher than the sol-gel transition temperature of gel molecules (TSG), the gelation can anchor the orientation of liquid crystal molecules to achieve the alteration of transparency and scattering of the film. In this paper, reverse mode LCPG films with high contrast, low driving voltage, and excellent cycle life were prepared using oriented liquid crystal cassettes and LCPG solutions, it also focused on the effects of chiral compounds (S)-octan-2-yl 4-((4-(hexyloxy)benzoyl)oxy)benzoate (S811) and gel 1,3:2,4-bis-0-(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (DMDBS) content on electro-optical properties of LCPG films as well as the different functions of TIA and TSG on film orientation.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal physical gel
• reverse mode films
• phase transition temperature
• fibre network
• electro-optical properties

Acknowledgments

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2024.2353383.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China [No. 2022YFB3603703], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 52173263], the Qinchuangyuan High-level Talent Project of Shaanxi [No. QCYRCXM-2022-219], the Xi’an Science and Technology Plan Project of Shaanxi Province [No. 2023JH-ZCGJ-0068], the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China [NO.2024JC-YBMS-445], and the Youth Innovation Team of Shaanxi Universities.