title: Dynamic Orthogonal Switching of a Thermoresponsive Self-Organized Helical Superstructure.
abstract: Controllable manipulation of self-organized dynamic superstructures of functional molecular materials by external stimuli is an enabling enterprise. Herein, we have developed a thermally driven, self-organized helical superstructure, i.e., thermoresponsive cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC), by integrating a judiciously chosen thermoresponsive chiral molecular switch into an achiral liquid crystalline medium. The CLC in lying state, in both planar and twisted nematic cells, exhibits reversible in-plane orthogonal switching of its helical axis in response to the combined effect of temperature and electric field. Consequently, the direction of the cholesteric grating has been observed to undergo 90° switching in a single cell, enabling non-mechanical beam steering along two orthogonal directions. The ability to reversibly switch the cholesteric gartings along perpendicular directions by appropriately adjusting temperature and electric field strength could facilitate their applications in 2D beam steering, spectrum scanning, optoelectronics and beyond.
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Lingli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Jalahalli, Bangalore, 560013, India.
authors.forename: Uma S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Hiremath
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Hari Krishna
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Bisoyi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Jalahalli, Bangalore, 560013, India.
authors.forename: Geetha G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, Jalahalli, Bangalore, 560013, India.
authors.forename: Channabasaveshwar V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Yelamaggad
authors.affiliation: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Augustine M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Urbas
authors.affiliation: Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bunning
authors.affiliation: Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: adaptive materials; chiral molecular switch; helical superstructures; orthogonally switchable gratings