Light-driven chiral molecular switches or motors in liquid crystals.
Summary of "Light-driven chiral molecular switches or motors in liquid crystals."
The ability to tune molecular self-organization with an external stimulus is a main driving force in the bottom-up nanofabrication of molecular devices. Light-driven chiral molecular switches or motors in liquid crystals that are capable of self-organizing into optically tunable helical superstructures undoubtedly represent a striking example, owing to their unique property of selective light reflection and which may lead to applications in the future. In this review, we focus on different classes of light-driven chiral molecular switches or motors in liquid crystal media for the induction and manipulation of photoresponsive cholesteric liquid crystal systems and their consequent applications. Moreover, the change of helical twisting powers of chiral dopants and their capability of helix inversion in the induced cholesteric phases are highlighted and discussed in the light of their molecular geometric changes.
Affiliation
Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics, Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
ISSN: 1521-4095
Pages: 1926-45
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22411073
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201200241
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Peptoids
Polymers of N-SUBSTITUTED GLYCINES containing chiral centers at the a-position of their side chains. These oligomers lack HYDROGEN BONDING donors, preventing formation of the usual intrachain hydrogen bonds but can form helices driven by the steric influence of chiral side chains.
Liquid Crystals
Materials in intermediate state between solid and liquid.
Vitrification
The transformation of a liquid to a glassy solid i.e., without the formation of crystals during the cooling process.
Lasers, Solid-state
Lasers which use a solid, as opposed to a liquid or gas, as the lasing medium. Common materials used are crystals, such as YAG (YTTRIUM aluminum garnet); alexandrite; and CORUNDUM, doped with a rare earth element such as a NEODYMIUM; ERBIUM; or HOLMIUM. The output is sometimes additionally modified by addition of non-linear optical materials such as potassium titanyl phosphate crystal, which for example is used with neodymium YAG lasers to convert the output light to the visible range.
Halorhodopsins
Light driven chloride ion pumps that are ubiquitously found in halophilic archaea (HALOBACTERIALES).
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