Imitating the structures and behaviors of natural creatures is of great significance to scientists to explore novel materials for practical applications. However, the design and fabrication of biomimetic devices with complex and outstanding performances is still on the way. A bilayer film composed of liquid crystalline networks (LCN) film and hydrochromic aggregation‐induced‐emission molecule‐doped hydrophilic layer is prepared. Under different relative humidity, the composite film can deform and change fluorescence color simultaneously. The influence of the content of the hydrophilic matrix on the fluorescent property and humidity‐responsive behaviors of the bilayer film is investigated. Thanks to the mechanical anisotropy provided by uniform‐aligned LCN film, different modes of deformation of the bilayer film are achievable, like bending, curling, and twisting. More importantly, due to the independence of the LCN film and the non‐mesogenic molecules brought by this bimorph strategy, complex alignment of the LCN film and modification by immiscible molecules are realized in a single LCN actuator. Based on the functional composite film, artificial flowers showing synergistic blooming and shape‐changing is prepared. By regulating the molecular alignment of the LC mesogens of the LCN film, the artificial flowers can imitate various blooming behaviors of natural flowers like confederate jasmine and jade lotus.

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Dynamic controllability of self‐organized helical superstructures in spatial dimensions is a key step to promote bottom‐up artificial nanoarchitectures and functional devices for diverse applications in a variety of areas. Here, a light‐driven chiral overcrowded alkene molecular motor with rod‐like substituent is designed and synthesized, and its thermal isomerization reaction exhibits an increasing structural entropy effect on chemical kinetic analysis in anisotropic achiral liquid crystal host than that in isotropic organic liquid. Interestingly, the stimuli‐directed angular orientation motion of helical axes in the self‐organized helical superstructures doped with the chiral motors enables the dynamic reconfiguration between the planar (thermostationary) and focal conic (photostationary) states. The reversible micromorphology deformation processes are compatible with the free energy fluctuation of self‐organized helical superstructures and the chemical kinetics of chiral motors under different conditions. Furthermore, stimuli‐directed reversible nonmechanical beam steering is achieved in dynamic hidden periodic photopatterns with reconfigurable attributes prerecorded with a corresponding photomask and photoinduced polymerization.

A novel soft-matter composite film of ethylene-vinyl acetate and liquid crystal with an energy conservation efficiency of 40.4% is developed.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) that have gained significant interest in the academia and industry because of their unique optoelectronic properties such as tunable emission wavelength, high color purity, wide color gamut, and high photoluminescence quantum yield. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate a QD colloid or solution into solid devices featuring the desired patterns and maintaining high efficiency. Recently, researchers have shown significant progress in the efficiency improvement and device fabrication of QD-based displays, contributed by the development of both materials and device engineering. In this review, the recent progress in the engineering of QDs will be discussed, with an emphasis on the encapsulation methods and patterning strategies by which QDs are packaged into solid-state devices with pixelated patterns as well as luminescence enhancement and modulation.

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A series of novel chiral polysiloxane side chain liquid crystal polymers (PSCLCPs) with two different types of LC phases and three self-assembly arrangements were successfully synthesized via thiol–ene click chemistry.

Abstract:Organosilicon polymer materials play an important role in certain applications due to characteristics of much lower glass transition temperatures (T g ), viscosities, surface energy, as well as good mechanical, thermal stabilities, and insulation performance stemming from the higher bond energy and the larger bond angles of the adjacent silicon-oxygen bond. This critical review highlights developments in the synthesis, structure, and phase transition behaviors of polysiloxane-based side chain liquid crystal polymers (PSCLCPs) of linear and cyclic polysiloxanes containing homopolymers and copolymers. Detailed synthetic strategies are elaborated, and the relationship between molecular structures and liquid crystalline phase transition behaviors is systematically discussed, providing theoretical guidance on the molecular design of the materials.