Liquid Crystals with Nano/Micro Particles and Their Applications

Liquid crystals (LCs) are self-organized anisotropic fluids with a fluidity of liquids and long-range lattice order, which can be enhanced by adding nanomaterials to produce composite or colloidal dispersions with revolutionary applications in metamaterials, photonics, functionalized polymer fibers, sensing, and medical diagnostics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Liquid crystals (LCs) are remarkable materials that exist in a unique thermodynamic state, positioned between the isotropic liquid and crystalline phases. They possess a remarkable combination of fluidity akin to liquids and the long-range lattice order characteristic of crystalline solids. By incorporating nanomaterials into liquid crystal (LC) materials, a fascinating phenomenon occurs known as composite or colloidal dispersion. This transformative addition leads to a significant expansion in the applications of LC materials, encompassing diverse fields such as metamaterials, photonics, functionalized polymer fibers, sensing, and medical diagnostics.

In the realm of metamaterials, nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals exhibit extraordinary properties. Metamaterials are engineered materials designed to manipulate the properties of light and matter for specific applications. By incorporating nano-particles into LC materials, metamaterials can achieve unprecedented optical properties, such as negative refraction, total internal reflection, and super-resolution imaging. These properties have vast implications in fields such as telecommunications, optical computing, and sensing.

In the field of photonics, nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals play a crucial role. Photonics involves the manipulation and transmission of light through various materials and devices. By incorporating nano-particles into LC materials, photonic devices can achieve enhanced performance, such as increased wavelength tunability, reduced loss, and improved efficiency. This has significant applications in areas such as optical communication, optical sensors, and optical data storage.

Functionalized polymer fibers are another area where nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals show promising applications. Polymer fibers are widely used in various industries, such as textiles, composites, and medical devices. By incorporating nano-particles into polymer fibers, these materials can be tailored to possess specific properties, such as enhanced strength, conductivity, or biocompatibility. This has significant implications in fields such as aerospace, automotive, and healthcare.

In the field of sensing, nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals offer unique capabilities. Sensors are devices that detect and respond to various physical or chemical stimuli. By incorporating nano-particles into LC materials, sensors can achieve enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and response time. This has significant applications in areas such as environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and industrial process control.

Finally, in the field of medical diagnostics, nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals have the potential to revolutionize healthcare. Medical diagnostics involves the identification and characterization of diseases and medical conditions. By incorporating nano-particles into LC materials, medical diagnostics can achieve improved accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This has significant implications in areas such as cancer detection, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.

In conclusion, nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals are a fascinating class of materials that exhibit a remarkable combination of fluidity, long-range lattice order, and nanomaterial properties. By incorporating nanomaterials into LC materials, these materials can be transformed into a wide range of applications, spanning from metamaterials to photonics, functionalized polymer fibers, sensing, and medical diagnostics. The potential of nano-particle-assisted liquid crystals is vast, and their continued research and development will undoubtedly lead to significant advancements in various fields.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 159 x 242 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367554316