Assembly and organization of nanoscale particles using thermotropic liquid crystals

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Nanotechnology is building functional materials from molecular or nanoscale building blocks. The many potentials of nanotechnology require a strong and broad network of nanoscience R&D, the development of novel strategies and expertise in various fields of science.Self-assembly of nanoparticles, a major goal for technological advances is essential for the integration and application of nanomaterials in high-tech devices. My laboratory is developing new approaches for the development of nanomaterials based on the combination of the unique properties of thermotropic (solvent-less) liquid crystals and nanoscale materials with the goal of producing liquid crystal nanocomposites that will respond to external stimuli such as temperature and applied electric fields. Liquid crystals, by their very nature, are perfect candidates for the self-assembly of nanoscale materials, as the liquid crystalline state combines order and mobility at the molecular (nanoscale) level. Composed of anisotropic molecules, liquid crystals interact with external fields and surfaces influencing structure and properties. Liquid crystals have gained great acceptance in many scientific communities; the concept of orientational order and collective molecular motion is recognized in bioscience, contributing to the understanding of cell membranes, muscles, and morphogenesis. In addition, liquid crystals have found widespread use in information displays, biological sensors, as drug delivery vehicles, in photonic band gap structures and in composite negative index materials, in flexible plastic displays, and in optical elements, from controllable lenses to laser beam steering. Liquid crystal science and technology is crossing the boundaries of many fundamental disciplines. Our design of functional liquid crystal nanocomposites will contribute to the nanotech revolution and likely to the discovery or improvement of many high-tech applications in areas such as nanoscale electronics, electro-optics, functional coatings, optical memories, and display devices with new switching modes, lower operating voltages, faster switching speeds, and higher contrast - an industry worth more than $60 billion/yr. - in a world with more LCDs than people.