Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

UV polymerisation of surfactants adsorbed at the nematic liquid crystal-water interface produces an optical response

Fletcher, Paul D. I.; Kang, Nae-Gyu; Paunov, Vesselin N.

Authors

Paul D. I. Fletcher

Nae-Gyu Kang

Vesselin N. Paunov



Abstract

We have investigated the changes in crossed polariser optical textures produced by adsorption and UV polymerisation of a range of polymerisable surfactants at the interface between a nematic liquid crystal and water. Similar to non-polymerisable surfactants, the adsorption of polymerisable surfactants with sufficiently long hydrophobic tail groups produces a transition from planar to homeotropic anchoring. UV polymerisation of surfactants with a polymerisable group located. in the hydrophobic, tail region changes the anchoring from homeotropic. back to planar. Polymerisation in the hydrophilic headgroup region does not produce an optical transition. We demonstrate that these systems can be used to "write with light" in the interfaces and that they form the basis of a UV sensor device in which the optical response is visible to the naked eye.

Citation

Fletcher, P. D. I., Kang, N.-G., & Paunov, V. N. (2009). UV polymerisation of surfactants adsorbed at the nematic liquid crystal-water interface produces an optical response. Chemphyschem, 10(17), 3046-3053. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200900405

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Sep 24, 2009
Publication Date Dec 7, 2009
Deposit Date Nov 13, 2014
Journal Chemphyschem
Print ISSN 1439-7641
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 10
Issue 17
Pages 3046-3053
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/cphc.200900405
Keywords Adsorption; Interfaces; Liquid crystals; Polymerization; Surfactants
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/461651
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cphc.200900405
Additional Information No subscription 21/10/16
Contract Date Nov 13, 2014