title: Near infrared light-driven liquid crystal phase transition enabled by hydrophobic mesogen grafted plasmonic gold nanorods.
abstract: Light-driven phase transition in liquid crystals is a fascinating endeavour from both scientific and technological points of view. Here we demonstrate the proof-of-principle that the photothermal effect of organo-soluble plasmonic gold nanorods can introduce the phase transition of thermotropic liquid crystals upon near infrared laser irradiation. Interestingly, the reverse process occurs when the laser is switched off.
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA. qli1@kent.edu.
authors.forename: Karla G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Gutierrez-Cuevas
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chenming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Gautam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Satyendra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Augustine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urbas
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007259:Infrared Rays; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D044367:Phase Transition; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D006046:Gold; D000077286:Cetrimonium