Carbon-nanotube sensitized nematic elastomer composites for IR-visible photo-actuation

Marshall, Jean E.; Ji, Yan; Torras, Núria; Zinoviev, Kirill; Terentjev, Eugene M.

doi:10.1039/c1sm06656k

Cited by 109 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…In addition, by varying the type, shape, and size of metallic NPs used, the bandwidth of spectral response could be modified from the visible to cover ultraviolet or near infrared. It is noteworthy that light-induced order-changing phase transition of LCs has been achieved in various liquid crystalline nanocomposites doped with gold nanoparticles, graphene, or carbon nanotubes, where the 'photothermal effect' of nanomaterials upon light irradiations play an important role in changing the orientational order of LC host [98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105]. All these nanomaterials possess superior optical absorption in a wide wavelength range upon light irradiations.…”

Section: Nano-dispersed Nematic Liquid Crystalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-activating liquid crystal devices for smart laser protection

Wang

2016

Liquid Crystals

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Lasers are now extensively used in a multitude of optical devices and photonic systems spanning from sensing, communication, entertainment, medical surgery to military applications. Direct accidental or intentional exposures to high power lasers may lead to severe temporary or even permanent harm of human eye, skin, or optical sensors. The effective laser protection and shielding are currently not only a subject of scientific research but also a potential public safety issue, therefore there is an urgent need to develop the intelligent laser protection devices for keeping human eyes, optical sensors, and other sensitive components from these unintended or intended damages by laser radiations without warning. Self-activating liquid crystal devices undoubtedly represent such an elegant example because they could be autonomously activated to block or attenuate the lasers when the laser intensity is higher than a maximum permissible exposure value. This review is devoted to summarising the up-to-date significant advances of selfactivating liquid crystal devices for potential smart laser protection, including twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal devices, liquid crystal cored waveguide fibre arrays, and photovoltaic/ pyroelectric-hybridised liquid crystal devices. Finally, the review concludes with the perspectives and challenges for the future development of self-activating liquid crystal devices. It is anticipated that this glimpse and further endeavours in the emerging field will help the researchers from different backgrounds towards the fabrication of highly efficient laser protection devices, their real-world widespread applications and beyond. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Nano-dispersed Nematic Liquid Crystalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-activating liquid crystal devices for smart laser protection

Wang

2016

Liquid Crystals

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“…One obvious possibility for sensitizing LCE materials to remote stimuli such as light (as opposed to outside heating) is to add functional nanoparticles to the material [47]. Nanoparticles have engaged intense scientific and industrial interest over a wide range of areas, from biomedicine to electrical components; their small size (less than 100 nm in at least one dimension) means that a relatively large fraction of their constituent atoms are surface atoms, a characteristic which can give them unusual physical and chemical properties compared to the corresponding bulk materials.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoparticle-Liquid Crystalline Elastomer Composites

Marshall

Terentjev

2012

Polymers

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Liquid crystalline elastomers (LCEs) exhibit a number of remarkable physical effects, including a uniquely high-stroke reversible mechanical actuation triggered by external stimuli. Fundamentally, all such stimuli affect the degree of liquid crystalline order in the polymer chains cross-linked into an elastic network. Heat and the resulting thermal actuation act by promoting entropic disorder, as does the addition of solvents. Photo-isomerization is another mechanism of actuation, reducing the orientational order by diminishing the fraction of active rod-like mesogenic units, mostly studied for azobenzene derivatives incorporated into the LCE composition. Embedding nanoparticles provides a new, promising strategy to add functionality to LCEs and ultimately enhance their performance as sensors and actuators. The motivation for the combination of nanoparticles with LCEs is to provide better-controlled actuation stimuli, such as electric and magnetic fields, and broad-spectrum light, by selecting and configuring the appropriate nanoparticles in the LCE matrix. Here we give an overview of recent advances in this area with a focus on preparation, physical properties and actuation performance of the resultant nanocomposites.

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“…Even if this work is beyond the scope of this review, it is noteworthy that wireless heating has also been successful using IR light as demonstrated by Marshall et al (2012). In order to have any practical application, the response time and the efficiency should be improved in such devices.…”

Section: Hybrid Liquid Crystalline Polymers and Elastomers For Soft Amentioning

confidence: 96%