Reversible switching of the shear modulus of photoresponsive liquid-crystalline polymers.
Manipulation makes light work: The morphology and rheological properties of a liquid-crystalline system can be dynamically manipulated with UV light by attaching photoresponsive liquid-crystalline moieties to a siloxane-based polymer. Stimulation with UV light induces a conformational change in the molecule, which disrupts the liquid-crystalline mesophase (see picture), and results in a dramatic change in its rheological properties.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.
Eric
E
Verploegen
Johannes
J
Soulages
Mariel
M
Kozberg
Tejia
T
Zhang
Gareth
G
McKinley
Paula
P
Hammond
D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D011108:Polymers; D012833:Siloxanes; C422409:liquid crystal polymer