Materials World Network: Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals

这个材料世界网络项目的重点是一个广泛和重要的，但目前了解甚少的一类液晶的结构和性质-所谓的溶致变色液晶（LCLC）。该奖项促进了来自肯特州立大学（物理和化学物理系）和乌克兰基辅物理研究所的跨学科小组之间的合作研究。LCLC的显著之处在于它们的结构单元是通常衍生自染料的类β分子的堆叠，其在水溶液中自组装，并且随后作为堆叠或堆叠束形成取向有序的液晶相。由于其独特的结构，LCLC表现出非凡的性能，这对于新的技术应用是有用的，包括（1）光学偏振器和补偿器，其在制造过程中不需要常规聚合物膜典型的机械拉伸，因此可以在几乎任何形状的基底上使用;（2）生物传感器，其中LCLC用作检测以及放大介质;以及（3）较长范围的应用，例如光收集。MWN项目的目标是通过测量LCLC的粘弹性参数、光学/光谱特性（包括时间和频率分辨的光学响应）以及作为浓度、掺杂剂、溶液离子含量和温度的函数的相行为，建立LCLC的基本物理性质和分子结构-物理性质关系。在此MWN下进行的研究将推进通过非共价键合的纳米级聚集和自组织机制的基础知识，以及从这些机制中产生的集体行为。拟议的研究将利用肯特州立大学液晶研究所的广泛设施和专业知识，并将利用国家实验室资源，如国家高磁场实验室。LCLC（和一般液晶）丰富的物理和化学特性，以及广泛的表征设施和技术，将确保研究生的广泛研究经验，并为新兴的软材料科学和工程领域的职业生涯奠定坚实的基础。MWN团队将为普通本科实验室开发新的基于LC的实验室练习，旨在建立基本物理概念与日常生活中无处不在的LC技术之间的知识联系。预期的社会效益包括新材料和新技术的可用性，这些新材料和新技术将改善从电信和显示器到生物传感器等领域的生活质量。

This Materials World Network project focuses on structure and properties of a broad and important, yet currently poorly understood class of liquid crystals - the so-called lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs). The award promotes collaborative research among an interdisciplinary group from Kent State University (Physics and Chemical Physics departments) and the Institute of Physics in Kiev, Ukraine. LCLCs are remarkable in that their building blocks are stacks of plank-like molecules, often derived from dyes, that self-assemble in aqueous solution and subsequently, as stacks or bundles of stacks, form orientationally ordered liquid crystalline phases. Because of their unique structure, LCLCs demonstrate extraordinary properties, which are useful for novel technological applications, including (1) optical polarizers and compensators that would not require the mechanical stretching during fabrication typical of conventional polymer films and so could be utilized on substrates of virtually any shape; (2) biological sensors in which the LCLC serves as the detecting as well as the amplifying medium; and (3) longer range applications such as light harvesting. The MWN project goal is to establish the basic physical properties and molecular structure - physical property relationship of LCLCs through measurements of their viscoelastic parameters, optical / spectral characteristics (including time and frequency resolved optical response), and phase behavior as a function of concentration, dopants, ionic content of the solution, and temperature. Research conducted under this MWN will advance basic knowledge of mechanisms of nanoscale aggregation and self-organization via non-covalent bonding and of the collective behavior ensuing from these mechanisms. The proposed research will leverage broad facilities and expertise available at Kent State's Liquid Crystal Institute, and will utilize national laboratory resources such as the National High Magnetic Field Lab. The rich physics and chemistry of LCLCs (and liquid crystals in general), and the wide range of characterization facilities and techniques to be used, will ensure a broad research experience for graduate students and strong foundation for careers in the burgeoning field of soft materials science and engineering. The MWN team will develop new LC-based laboratory exercises for general undergraduate labs designed to establish an intellectual connection between basic physics concepts and LC technology ubiquitous in everyday life. The expected societal benefits include the availability of new materials and technologies that would improve the quality of life in areas ranging from telecommunications and displays to biological sensors.This award is co-funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Office of International Science and Engineering