Responsive Photonic Liquid Marbles

Anyfantakis, Manos; Jampani, Venkata S.R.; Kizhakidathazhath, Rijeesh; Binks, Bernard P.; Lagerwall, Jan P.F.

Abstract

Liquid marbles have potential to serve as mini-reactors for fabricating new materials, but this has been exploited little and mostly for conventional chemical reactions. Here, we uncover the unparalleled capability of liquid marbles to act as platforms for controlling the self-assembly of a bio-derived polymer, hydroxypropyl cellulose, into a cholesteric liquid crystalline phase showing structural coloration by Bragg reflection. By adjusting the cholesteric pitch via quantitative water extraction, we achieve liquid marbles that we can tailor for structural color anywhere in the visible range. Liquid marbles respond with color change that can be detected by eye, to changes in temperature, exposure to toxic chemicals and mechanical deformation. Our concept demonstrates the advantages of using liquid marbles as a miniature platform for controlling the liquid crystal self-assembly of bio-derived polymers, and their exploitation to fabricate sustainable, responsive soft photonic objects.

Citation

Anyfantakis, M., Jampani, V. S., Kizhakidathazhath, R., Binks, B. P., & Lagerwall, J. P. (2020). Responsive Photonic Liquid Marbles. Angewandte Chemie, 59(43), 19260-19267. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202008210

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 19, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jul 19, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 19, 2020
• Deposit Date: Dec 2, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 7, 2020
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
• Print ISSN: 1433-7851
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 43
• Pages: 19260-19267
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202008210
• Keywords: Cholesteric liquid crystals; Hydroxypropyl cellulose; Liquid marble; Stimuli responsiveness; Structural color
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3569000
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202008210