Self-assembled, optically responsive nematic liquid crystal/polymer core-shell fibers: Formation and characterization

Büyüktanir, Ebru; Frey, Margaret W.; West, John L.

doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2010.08.011

Cited by 69 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…A potential solution to this conundrum recently appeared with experimental demonstrations of fibre production with liquid crystal contained within the fibre core [11,[49][50][51][52][53][54]. The concept is highly attractive, because the LC-functionalised fibres can be produced at low cost, following a simple one-step standard fibre production procedure that yields flexible non-woven responsive fibre mats that can be used as sensors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The concept is highly attractive, because the LC-functionalised fibres can be produced at low cost, following a simple one-step standard fibre production procedure that yields flexible non-woven responsive fibre mats that can be used as sensors. The fibres have been produced through electrospinning, the core-sheath geometry ensured using a coaxial spinneret [11,49,51,53,54] or via in-situ phase separation [52], as well as through airbrushing [50]. In the following, we will focus on the electrospinning technique [55][56][57], in which a high voltage applied between spinneret and a grounded counter electrode leads to ejection of a thin charged jet from a droplet of spinning liquid that protrudes from the spinneret.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A variety of LCs have been incorporated in the fibres, including non-chiral nematics [52,54], shortpitch cholesterics [49,51,53,58] and smectics [59]. A convenient aspect is that the cylindrical polymer sheath, stretched during spinning, acts like an alignment layer on the contained LC [51,59], ensuring a ground state director orientation primarily along the fibres.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Non-electronic gas sensors from electrospun mats of liquid crystal core fibres for detecting volatile organic compounds at room temperature

Sharma

Lagerwall

2016

Liquid Crystals

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Non-woven mats comprised of liquid crystal-functionalised fibres are coaxially electrospun to create soft gas sensors that function non-electronically, thus requiring no power supply, detecting organic vapours at room temperature. The fibres consist of a poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) sheath surrounding a core of nematic 4-cyano-4ʹpentylbiphenyl (5CB) liquid crystal. Several types of mats, containing uniformly cylindrical or irregular beaded fibres, in uniform or random orientations, are exposed to toluene vapour as a representative volatile organic compound. Between crossed polarisers all mats respond with a fast (response time on the order of a second or faster) reduction in brightness during gas exposure, and they return to the original state upon removal of the gas almost as quickly. With beaded fibres, the response of the mats is visible even without polarisers. We discuss how variations in fibre spinning conditions such as humidity level and the ratio of core-sheath fluid flow rates can be used to tune fibre morphology and thereby the response. Considering future development perspectives, we argue that fibres turned responsive through the incorporation of a liquid crystal core show promise as a new generation of sensors with textile form factor, ideal for wearable technology applications. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-electronic gas sensors from electrospun mats of liquid crystal core fibres for detecting volatile organic compounds at room temperature

Sharma

Lagerwall

2016

Liquid Crystals

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“…12) Recent studies have examined electrospinning and LCs to discover potential LC applications. [13][14][15][16] Kim et al reported that the LC functionalization of electrospun polymer fibers has several potential applications, especially in wearable technologies, such as fibers integrated with sensors. 17) In this study, functional optical fibers were fabricated using polymer LC fibers.…”

confidence: 99%

Thermal-optical analysis of polymer–liquid crystal microfibers

Fatayati

Kusumaatmaja

Yusuf

2018

Jpn. J. Appl. Phys.

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In this paper, the analysis of optically responsive microfibers with uniaxially ordered liquid crystal (LC) molecules at their cores is discussed. LC microfibers were electrospun from a solution of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4$-butylaniline (MBBA) using absolute alcohol as a solvent. Two parallel copper (Cu) collectors were used to obtain ordered fibers. The microfibers with oriented LC molecules were well fabricated at a voltage of 5 kV. A thermal-optical analysis revealed that the fibers were responsive to temperature. The rise of temperature from nematic to isotropic phase of LC decreased the LC intensity under a polarized optical microscope (POM).

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“…Lagerwall et al reported the incorporation of LCs into fibers through coaxial electrospinning. [11] West and co-workers produced LC/polymer core/sheath fibers through phase separation by means of either electrospinning aL Ca nd polymer homogeneous solution [12] or mechanically drawing as ubstratefree PDLC film. [13] Recently,anew technique called solution blow spinning (airbrushing) has been developed as an alternative method for making micro-and nanofibers.…”

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confidence: 99%

Airbrush Formation of Liquid Crystal/Polymer Fibers

2015

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A homogeneous solution of a low-molecular-weight liquid crystal and a polymer spontaneously phase separates during airbrushing to form uniform fibers with a fluid liquid-crystal core surrounded by a solid polymer sheath. This structure forms because it effectively minimizes the interfacial energy of the phase-separated components while minimizing the elastic energy of the liquid-crystal core. These fibers incorporate the sensitive stimuli response of liquid crystals while maintaining the structural integrity, flexibility, and large surface-area-to-volume ratios inherent in fibers. We demonstrate the electro- and thermo-optical response of the resulting fibers. They may find use as biological and chemical sensors. The resulting fibers have the potential to shape the future of flexible/wearable electronics and sensors.

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Self-assembled, optically responsive nematic liquid crystal/polymer core-shell fibers: Formation and characterization

Cited by 69 publications

References 29 publications

Non-electronic gas sensors from electrospun mats of liquid crystal core fibres for detecting volatile organic compounds at room temperature

Non-electronic gas sensors from electrospun mats of liquid crystal core fibres for detecting volatile organic compounds at room temperature

Thermal-optical analysis of polymer–liquid crystal microfibers

Airbrush Formation of Liquid Crystal/Polymer Fibers

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