Reversible Photoresponsive Molecular Alignment of Liquid Crystals at Fluid Interfaces with Persistent Stability |
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| Authors: | Yi Wang Yanan Gao Prof Li Yu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, PR China).;2. China Ionic Liquid Laboratory, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, PR China;3. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, PR China |
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| Abstract: | This work demonstrates a noninvasive approach to control alignment of liquid crystals persistently and reversibly at fluid interfaces by using a photoresponsive azobenzene‐based surfactant dissolved in an ionic liquid (IL), ethylammonium nitrate (EAN). As the first report on the orientational behavior of LCs at the IL/LC interface, our study also expands current understanding of alignment control of LCs at the aqueous/LC interface by adding electrolytes into aqueous solutions. The threshold concentration for switching the optical responses of LCs can be changed just by simply manipulating the ratio of EAN to H2O. This work will inspire fundamental studies and novel applications of using the LC‐based imaging technique to investigate various chemical and biological events in ILs. |
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| Keywords: | amphiphile fluid interface ionic liquid liquid crystal persistent and photoreversible alignment |
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