Autonomous materials systems from active liquid crystals

Active soft matter is a young, growing field, with potential applications to a wide variety of systems. This Theme Issue explores this emerging new field by highlighting active liquid crystals. The collected contributions bridge theory to experiment, mathematical theories of passive and active nematics, spontaneous flows to defect dynamics, microscopic to continuum levels of description, spontaneous activity to biological activation. While the perspectives offered here only span a small part of this rapidly evolving field, we trust that they might provide the interested reader with a taste for this new class of non-equilibrium systems and their rich behaviour.

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Near equilibrium dynamics and one-dimensional spatial—temporal structures of polar active liquid crystals

Chinese Physics B ◽

10.1088/1674-1056/23/11/118701 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 23 (11) ◽

pp. 118701 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Xiao-Gang Yang ◽

Qi Wang ◽

M. Gregory Forest

Keyword(s):

Liquid Crystals ◽

One Dimensional ◽

Equilibrium Dynamics ◽

Active Liquid ◽

Temporal Structures

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Synthesis and Phase Transitional Behavior of Dimer-like Optically Active Liquid Crystals

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B ◽

10.1021/jp206224k ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 115 (37) ◽

pp. 10849-10859 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Govindaswamy Shanker ◽

Channabasaveshwar V. Yelamaggad

Keyword(s):

Liquid Crystals ◽

Optically Active ◽

Transitional Behavior ◽

Active Liquid

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Novel Trends in Lyotropic Liquid Crystals

Crystals ◽

10.3390/cryst10070604 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 604 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ingo Dierking ◽

Antônio Martins Figueiredo Neto

Keyword(s):

Graphene Oxide ◽

Liquid Crystal ◽

Liquid Crystals ◽

Soft Matter ◽

Anisotropic Materials ◽

Lyotropic Liquid Crystals ◽

Electro Optic ◽

Thermotropic Liquid Crystals ◽

Active Liquid ◽

Biological Liquid

We introduce and shortly summarize a variety of more recent aspects of lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs), which have drawn the attention of the liquid crystal and soft matter community and have recently led to an increasing number of groups studying this fascinating class of materials, alongside their normal activities in thermotopic LCs. The diversity of topics ranges from amphiphilic to inorganic liquid crystals, clays and biological liquid crystals, such as viruses, cellulose or DNA, to strongly anisotropic materials such as nanotubes, nanowires or graphene oxide dispersed in isotropic solvents. We conclude our admittedly somewhat subjective overview with materials exhibiting some fascinating properties, such as chromonics, ferroelectric lyotropics and active liquid crystals and living lyotropics, before we point out some possible and emerging applications of a class of materials that has long been standing in the shadow of the well-known applications of thermotropic liquid crystals, namely displays and electro-optic devices.

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Upper/lower rim functionalized calixarene based AIE-active liquid crystals with self-assembly behavior: Photophysical and electrochemical studies

Journal of Molecular Liquids ◽

10.1016/j.molliq.2021.118047 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 118047

Author(s):

Vinay S. Sharma ◽

Priyanka A. Shah ◽

Anuj S. Sharma ◽

Venkata Subba Rao Ganga ◽

Pranav S. Shrivastav ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liquid Crystals ◽

Self Assembly ◽

Electrochemical Studies ◽

Active Liquid ◽

Assembly Behavior

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6. Liveliness

Soft Matter: A Very Short Introduction ◽

10.1093/actrade/9780198807131.003.0006 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 115-134

Author(s):

Tom McLeish

Keyword(s):

Liquid Crystals ◽

Soft Matter ◽

Active Form ◽

Cross Linking ◽

Polymer Gel ◽

Biologically Inspired ◽

Active Liquid ◽

Cross Links ◽

The Cross ◽

Colloid Nanoparticles

‘Liveliness’ studies the new biologically inspired field of active soft matter. Almost any type of soft matter possesses an active form. Using myosin corresponds to making the cross-links of a polymer gel active. However, polymerization itself can be actively driven, as well as the cross-linking between polymers. Bacteria are, within this perspective, an active form of colloid—nanoparticles that can swim. As their shape becomes highly anisotropic, they generate the notion of ‘active liquid crystals’.

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