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Smectic‐B Liquid Single Crystal Elastomers as Efficient Optical Mechanotransducers
Author(s) -
EscaleraLópez Daniel,
GarciaAmorós Jaume,
Velasco Dolores
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201700550
Subject(s) - elastomer , mesogen , liquid crystal , materials science , mesophase , polymer , monomer , carbazole , nanotechnology , smart material , liquid crystalline , crystallography , chemistry , composite material , optoelectronics , photochemistry
Carbazole‐based liquid single‐crystal elastomers (LSCEs) are valuable materials to convert mechanical forces into optical signals, i.e., optical mechanotransduction. The identification and rationalization of the different structural factors governing the mechanotransduction process are essential to guide the future design of these smart sensing materials. Herein, how the type of mesophase displayed by the elastomer impacts its transducing capabilities is explored. Remarkably, smectic‐B LSCEs are significantly more efficient mechanotransducers than their nematic analogs, independent of the length of the flexible spacer that connects the fluorogenic monomers to the main polymeric backbone. In this instance, the fluorogenic moieties are located within the smectic lamellae formed by the mesogenic units, thereby forcing a stronger interaction between both the platforms and resulting in a much more effective fluorescence quenching upon deformation.