Molecular Protectors Improve Liquid Crystal-Nanoparticle Blends
Adding nanoparticles to liquid crystals can give the material new and useful properties. But nanoparticles tend to clump together rather than disperse evenly throughout the mixture, which limits functionality. So researchers designed molecular protectors to cover the nanoparticles. The branched, cone-shaped molecules have end groups that improve compatibility with the liquid-crystal matrix and prevent the particles from fusing. As the mixture cools to room temperature, polarized light reveals glimmering patterns of evenly dispersed nanoparticles. The researchers hope this approach will pave the way for more liquid crystal-nanoparticle hybrids.
Source: “Design of Dendritic Promesogenic Ligands for Liquid Crystal-Nanoparticle Hybrid Systems“ in Chemistry of Materials
Corresponding author: Christopher B. Murray, Ph.D.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater...
Writer: Kerri Jansen
Producer: Darren Weaver
#nanoparticles #chemistry #science
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