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Reconfigurable Photonic Capsules Containing Cholesteric Liquid Crystals with Planar Alignment
Author(s) -
Lee Sang Seok,
Kim Su Kyung,
Won Jong Chan,
Kim Yun Ho,
Kim ShinHyun
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201507723
Subject(s) - materials science , planar , liquid crystal , membrane , template , cholesteric liquid crystal , elastomer , microfluidics , optoelectronics , photonics , nanotechnology , wavelength , layer (electronics) , composite material , chemistry , computer science , biochemistry , computer graphics (images)
Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) reflect selected wavelengths of light owing to their periodic helical structures. The encapsulation of CLCs leads to photonic devices that can be easily processed and might be used as stand‐alone microsensors. However, when CLCs are enclosed by polymeric membranes, they usually lose their planar alignment, leading to a deterioration of the optical performance. A microfluidics approach was employed to integrate an ultrathin alignment layer into microcapsules to separate the CLC core and the elastomeric solid membrane using triple‐emulsion drops as the templates. The thinness of the alignment layer provides high lubrication resistance, preserving the layer integrity during elastic deformation of the membrane. The CLCs in the microcapsules can thus maintain their planar alignment, rendering the shape and optical properties highly reconfigurable.