Effect of fermented polypeptide of Sacha Inchi(Plukenetia volubilis L.)on the structure of liquid crystal emulsion

In order to study the action mechanism of Sacha Inchi polypeptide in liquid crystal emulsion,oil-in-water liquid crystal emulsions with Sacha Inchi fermented polypeptide as the active component were prepared.The microstructures,particle sizes,stabilities,thermodynamic properties,and rheological properties of liquid crystal emulsions with different concentrations of the fermentation products were observed by Polarizing microscope,Particle size meter,Thermogravimetric differential thermal synchronous measurement system,and Rheometer,respectively.The results showed that the average particle size of fermented peptide liquid crystal emulsion was(25.7±2.8)μm,and the liquid crystal structure was complete and stable.The content of bound water and liquid crystal in the emulsion with 1%Sacha Inchi polypeptide were higher than those in the blank emulsion and the emulsions with 3%and 5%Sacha Inchi polypeptide.Rheological results indicated that the viscosity of liquid crystal emulsion with the change curve of shear rate registered the shear thinning phenomenon,which belongs to non-Newtonian fluid.The hysteresis area,energy storage modulus,and loss modulus of the 1%additive amount of liquid crystal emulsion were larger than those of the blank emulsion and the emulsions with 3%and 5%Sacha Inchi polypeptide,indicating greater thixotropy and stronger shear resistance.The hydrophilic amino acid residues of the peptide in the 1%additive amount of the emulsion were combined with the water phase,while the hydrophobic amino acid residues of the peptide entered the oil phase,which formed a viscoelastic film at the oil-water interface,so that the liquid crystal emulsion had a more stable gel network structure.

Smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers:Design,properties and application

Smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers are a class of soft photonic crystals with periodic nanostructures.There are two kinds of chiral liquid crystal elastomers with structural colors:cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers with a one-dimensional helical nanostructure and blue-phase liquid crystal elastomers with a three-dimensional photonic crystal nanostructure.The self-assembled nanostructure of chiral liquid crystal elastomers can be dynamically controlled under external stimulation,and the reflected color can be adjusted throughout the visible light range.Along with the development of innovative material systems and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies,researchers have proposed diverse strategies to design and synthesize chiral liquid crystal elastomers and have thoroughly investigated their properties and potential applications.Here,we provide a systematic review of the progress in the design and fabrication of smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers,focusing on the cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers via surface-enforced alignment,bar coating,3D printing,anisotropic deswelling methods as well as the three-dimensional selfassembly of blue-phase liquid crystal elastomers without additional alignment.Smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers are able to respond quickly to external stimuli and have a wide range of applications in areas such as adaptive optics,color-changing camouflage,soft robotics,and information encryption.This review concludes with a perspective on the opportunities and challenges for the future development of smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers.

Multi-dimensional multiplexing optical secret sharing framework with cascaded liquid crystal holograms

Secret sharing is a promising technology for information encryption by splitting the secret information into different shares.However,the traditional scheme suffers from information leakage in decryption process since the amount of available information channels is limited.Herein,we propose and demonstrate an optical secret sharing framework based on the multi-dimensional multiplexing liquid crystal(LC)holograms.The LC holograms are used as spatially separated shares to carry secret images.The polarization of the incident light and the distance between different shares are served as secret keys,which can significantly improve the information security and capacity.Besides,the decryption condition is also restricted by the applied external voltage due to the variant diffraction efficiency,which further increases the information security.In implementation,an artificial neural network(ANN)model is developed to carefully design the phase distribution of each LC hologram.With the advantage of high security,high capacity and simple configuration,our optical secret sharing framework has great potentials in optical encryption and dynamic holographic display.

Liquid crystal-integrated metasurfaces for an active photonic platform

Metasurfaces have opened the door to next-generation optical devices due to their ability to dramatically modulate electromagnetic waves at will using periodically arranged nanostructures.However,metasurfaces typically have static optical responses with fixed geometries of nanostructures,which poses challenges for implementing transition to technology by replacing conventional optical components.To solve this problem,liquid crystals(LCs)have been actively employed for designing tunable metasurfaces using their adjustable birefringent in real time.Here,we review recent studies on LCpowered tunable metasurfaces,which are categorized as wavefront tuning and spectral tuning.Compared to numerous reviews on tunable metasurfaces,this review intensively explores recent development of LC-integrated metasurfaces.At the end of this review,we briefly introduce the latest research trends on LC-powered metasurfaces and suggest further directions for improving LCs.We hope that this review will accelerate the development of new and innovative LC-powered devices.

Dielectric anisotropy in liquid crystal mixtures with nematic and smectic phases

The modulation of dielectric anisotropy(△ε)is pivotal for elucidating molecular interactions and directing the alignment of liquid crystals.In this study,we combine liquid crystals with opposing dielectric anisotropies to explore the impact of varying concentrations on their properties.We report the sign-reversal of△εin both the nematic and smectic A phases of these mixed liquid crystals,alongside a dual-frequency behaviour across a broad temperature spectrum.Our research further quantifies the influence of mixture ratios under various temperatures and electric field frequencies.This exploration may pave the way for the discovery of new physical phenomena.

Stability analysis of a liquid crystal elastomer self-oscillator under a linear temperature field

Self-oscillating systems abound in the natural world and offer substantial potential for applications in controllers,micro-motors,medical equipments,and so on.Currently,numerical methods have been widely utilized for obtaining the characteristics of self-oscillation including amplitude and frequency.However,numerical methods are burdened by intricate computations and limited precision,hindering comprehensive investigations into self-oscillating systems.In this paper,the stability of a liquid crystal elastomer fiber self-oscillating system under a linear temperature field is studied,and analytical solutions for the amplitude and frequency are determined.Initially,we establish the governing equations of self-oscillation,elucidate two motion regimes,and reveal the underlying mechanism.Subsequently,we conduct a stability analysis and employ a multi-scale method to obtain the analytical solutions for the amplitude and frequency.The results show agreement between the multi-scale and numerical methods.This research contributes to the examination of diverse self-oscillating systems and advances the theoretical analysis of self-oscillating systems rooted in active materials.

Liquid crystal droplets formation and stabilization during phase transition process

The study of phase transition processes in liquid crystals(LCs)remains challenging.Most thermotropic LCs exhibit a narrow temperature range and a rapid phase transition from the isotropic(ISO)to the nematic(N)phase,which make it difficult to capture and manipulate the phase transition process.In this study,we observed the evolution of small droplets during the ISO–N phase transition in ferroelectric nematic(NF)LC RM734.After doping with metal nanoparticles(NPs),the temperature range of the phase transition broadened,and the droplets formed during the phase transition remained stable,with their diameter increasing linearly with temperature.In addition,droplets doped with NPs can be well controlled by an external electric field.This discovery not only aids in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of LC phase transitions but also provides a simple alternative method for preparing droplets,which is potentially valuable for applications in optoelectronic devices and sensors.

WEAK-STRONG UNIQUENESS FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL INCOMPRESSIBLE ACTIVE LIQUID CRYSTALS

The hydrodynamics of active liquid crystal models has attracted much attention in recent years due to many applications of these models.In this paper,we study the weak-strong uniqueness for the Leray-Hopf type weak solutions to the incompressible active liquid crystals in R^(3).Our results yield that if there exists a strong solution,then it is unique among the Leray-Hopf type weak solutions associated with the same initial data.

THE EXISTENCE AND UNIQUENESS OF TIME-PERIODIC SOLUTIONS TO THE NON-ISOTHERMAL MODEL FOR COMPRESSIBLE NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS IN A PERIODIC DOMAIN

In this paper,we are concerned with a three-dimensional non-isothermal model for the compressible nematic liquid crystal flows in a periodic domain.Under some smallness and structural assumptions imposed on the time-periodic force,we establish the existence of the time-periodic solutions to the system by using a regularized approximation scheme and the topological degree theory.We also prove a uniqueness result via energy estimates.

Advances in Liquid Crystal Epoxy:Molecular Structures,Thermal Conductivity,and Promising Applications in Thermal Management

Traditional heat conductive epoxy composites often fall short in meeting the escalating heat dissipation demands of large-power,high-frequency,and highvoltage insulating packaging applications,due to the challenge of achieving high thermal conductivity(k),desirable dielectric performance,and robust thermomechanical properties simultaneously.Liquid crystal epoxy(LCE)emerges as a unique epoxy,exhibiting inherently high k achieved through the self-assembly of mesogenic units into ordered structures.This characteristic enables liquid crystal epoxy to retain all the beneficial physical properties of pristine epoxy,while demonstrating a prominently enhanced k.As such,liquid crystal epoxy materials represent a promising solution for thermal management,with potential to tackle the critical issues and technical bottlenecks impeding the increasing miniaturization of microelectronic devices and electrical equipment.This article provides a comprehensive review on recent advances in liquid crystal epoxy,emphasizing the correlation between liquid crystal epoxy’s microscopic arrangement,organized mesoscopic domain,k,and relevant physical properties.The impacts of LC units and curing agents on the development of ordered structure are discussed,alongside the consequent effects on the k,dielectric,thermal,and other properties.External processing factors such as temperature and pressure and their influence on the formation and organization of structured domains are also evaluated.Finally,potential applications that could benefit from the emergence of liquid crystal epoxy are reviewed.

ENERGY CONSERVATION FOR THE WEAK SOLUTIONS TO THE 3D COMPRESSIBLE NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTAL FLOW

In this paper,we establish some regularity conditions on the density and velocity fields to guarantee the energy conservation of the weak solutions for the three-dimensional compressible nematic liquid crystal flow in the periodic domain.

2D MoS2 Helical Liquid Crystalline Fibers for Multifunctional Wearable Sensors

Fiber-based material systems are emerging as key elements for next-generation wearable devices due to their remarkable advantages,including large mechanical deformability,breathability,and high durability.Recently,greatly improved mechani-cal stability has been established in functional fiber systems by introducing atomic-thick two-dimensional(2D)materials.Further development of intelligent fibers that can respond to various external stimuli is strongly needed for versatile applica-tions.In this work,helical-shaped semiconductive fibers capable of multifunctional sensing are obtained by wet-spinning MoS2 liquid crystal(LC)dispersions.The mechanical properties of the MoS2 fibers were improved by exploiting high-purity LC dispersions consisting of uniformly-sized MoS2 nanoflakes.Notably,three-dimensional(3D)helical fibers with structural chirality were successfully constructed by controlling the wet-spinning process parameters.The helical fibers exhibited multifunctional sensing characteristics,including(1)photodetection,(2)pH monitoring,(3)gas detection,and(4)3D strain sensing.2D materials with semiconducting properties as well as abundant surface reactive sites enable smart multifunctionalities in one-dimensional(1D)and helical fiber geometry,which is potentially useful for diverse applications such as wearable internet of things(IoT)devices and soft robotics.

Influence of the Powder on the Properties of the Liquid Crystal Emulsions

The purpose of study was to evaluate the effect of four powder including titanium dioxide,bismuth oxychloride,silica,and kaolin on the properties of the liquid crystal emulsions.The results show that the addition of titanium dioxide and bismuth oxychloride had no obvious effect on the liquid crystal structure.In addition,the addition of Kaolin and silica have an effect on the stability of the liquid crystal structure.Sensory evaluation and Texture analyzer results shown that the addition of titanium dioxide and bismuth oxychloride had no obvious effect on the spreadability of liquid crystal system.The addition of silica and Kaolin was increased the hardness and adhesive of the liquid crystal system.Rheological experiments shown that the kaolin system had lower structural stability.the system with titanium dioxide,bismuth oxychloride,and silica has good stability.This paper provides data support for the application of powders in the formulation of liquid crystal system,which aims to provide a data basis for the preparation and applications of liquid crystal emulsion.

Preparation and improved photocatalytic activity of ordered mesoporous TiO_2 by evaporation induced self-assembly technique using liquid crystal as template

Ordered mesoporous TiO2 （OMPT） was prepared by an evaporation induced self-assembly technique using liquid crystal as template. The key factors affecting the methylene blue （MB） oxidation efficiency were investigated, including the initial concentration of MB, pH value and catalyst concentration. The results show that the obtained OMPT has high thermal stability and shows a 2D hexagonal mesostructure with the small particle size and high surface area, which lead to higher degradation efficiency than commercial P25 or nanoparticle TiO2 （NPT） fabricated by sol-gel process. The optimal conditions are 5 mg/L MB, pH 6 and 1.5 g/L OMPT for the fastest rate of MB degradation. Total organic carbon （TOC） analysis indicates complete mineralization of MB in 240 min by OMPT, with rate constant higher than NPT or P25.

Synthesis and Characterization of Side-Chain Liquid Crystalline Polysiloxanes

Side chain liquid crystalline golysiloxanes conta ing biphenyl and benzyl ether mesogen were synthesized by the hydrosilation of poly(methylhydrcsiloxane) with 4-(4-allyloxybenzytoxy)-4'- methoxybiphenyl(M_1),4-(4-allyloxybenzyloxy)-4'-ethoxybiphenyl(M_2),4-(4-allyloxybenzyloxy)-4'- propoxybiphenyl(M_3),4-(4-allyloxybenzyloxy)-4'-butoxybiphenyl(M_4),4-(4-allyloxybenzyloxy)-4'- pentyloxybiphenyl(M_5).The phase behavior of monomeric and polymeric liquid crystals was chararcterized by differential scanning calorimetry and optical polarization microscopy.Both the monomeric and polymeric liquid crystals exhibit liquid crystal behaviors.

Liquid Crystal Motion Picture Projector

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Circuit-Level Analysis on Opto-Electronic Characteristics of Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal

We propose an electronic model in Spice, instead of traditional mathematical analysis, for analyzing the performance of ferroelectric liquid crystal （FLC） under various working conditions. Using this equivalent circuit model,it is easy to simulate and analyze the behavior of an FLC layer in three different typical parameters,including temperature, input light wavelength, and the frequency of driving voltage. We conclude that the response velocity drops as the wavelength increases in the range of visible light, and for the parameter of temperature, the velocity reaches its lowest value when the temperature reaches a certain degree,meanwhile,the frequency of driving voltage exerts important effects on the response velocity only when the frequency is beyond a critical value. Excellent agreement is achieved between simulation and experimental results.

A review of liquid crystal spatial light modulators:devices and applications

Spatial light modulators,as dynamic flat-panel optical devices,have witnessed rapid development over the past two decades,concomitant with the advancements in micro-and opto-electronic integration technology.In particular,liquid-crystal spatial light modulator(LC-SLM)technologies have been regarded as versatile tools for generating arbitrary optical fields and tailoring all degrees of freedom beyond just phase and amplitude.These devices have gained significant interest in the nascent field of structured light in space and time,facilitated by their ease of use and real-time light manipulation,fueling both fundamental research and practical applications.Here we provide an overview of the key working principles of LC-SLMs and review the significant progress made to date in their deployment for various applications,covering topics as diverse as beam shaping and steering,holography,optical trapping and tweezers,measurement,wavefront coding,optical vortex,and quantum optics.Finally,we conclude with an outlook on the potential opportunities and technical challenges in this rapidly developing field.

Odd-even Effect on Liquid Crystalline Behavior for C_3-Cyclotriveratrylene(CTV) Derivatives Containing Alkoxies with Different Lengths as Peripheral Groups

A series of bowlic cyclotriveratrylenes（CTV） with peripheral groups with different lengths were synthesized.These compounds were investigated by diferential scanning calorimetry and hot stage coupled polarizing microscopy.Several CTV derivatives show thermotropic liquid crystalline properties.The experimental results of their thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior indicate that the clear points,the entropy changes of melting points,the crystallization temperatures,and their entropy changes all exhibited an evident odd-even effect except the melting points,which decreased monotonously with the increase of the length of the alkoxy groups.The parameter values of CTVs with even number carbon atoms were larger than those of CTVs with odd number.When the length of alkoxyl chains was even longer,a monotonous decrease occured.Nevertheless,in the case of the entropy changes of both melting points and crystallization temperatures,the effect was valid for all the six species,and therefore,the whole curves presented as a zig-zag form.

ORGANOMETALLIC FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS Ⅰ. LIQUID CRYSTAL PROPERTIES OF ORTHO—PALLADATED BINUCLEAR COMPLEXES OF AZINE, IMINE AND AZO DERIVATIVES

The mesomorphie properties of title complexes are investigated by means of DSC and polarizing microscopy. The mesophase temperature ranges of complexes are wider than that of corresponding organic ligands. The bridging groups of the complexes have profoand effects on the mesomorphic behavior, When the bridging groups are opticallhy active. the compleve show chiral smectic