The discovery has applications in signage, posters, writing tablets, billboards and anti-counterfeit technology
Chemists at the University of California, Riverside have constructed liquid crystals with optical properties that can be instantly and reversibly controlled by an external magnetic field. The research paves the way for novel display applications relying on the instantaneous and contactless nature of magnetic manipulation—such as signage, posters, writing tablets, and billboards.
Commercially available liquid crystals, used in modern electronic displays, are composed of rod-like or plate-like molecules. When an electric field is applied, the molecules rotate and align themselves along the field direction, resulting in a rapid tuning of transmitted light.
“The liquid crystals we developed are essentially a liquid dispersion, a simple aqueous dispersion of magnetic nanorods,” said Yadong Yin, an associate professor ofchemistry, who led the research project. “We use magnetic nanorods in place of the commercial nonmagnetic rod-like molecules. Optically these magnetic rods work in a similar way to commercial rod-like molecules, with the added advantage of being able to respond rapidly to external magnetic fields.”
Yin explained that upon the application of a magnetic field, the nanorods spontaneously rotate and realign themselves parallel to the field direction, and influence the transmittance of polarized light.
“Prior attempts had been limited to materials with very limited magnetic responses,” Yin said. “We utilized our expertise in colloidal nanostructure synthesis to produce magnetite nanorods that can form liquid crystals and respond strongly to even very weak magnetic fields – even a fridge magnet can operate our liquid crystals.”
Read more . . .
The Latest on: Magnetically Responsive Liquid Crystals
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Magnetically Responsive Liquid Crystals” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Magnetically Responsive Liquid Crystals
- How liquid crystal elastomer research is paving the way for new applications and practical deviceson February 1, 2023 at 9:06 am
A new e-book discusses developments in liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) technology achieved with support from the APRA project. Authored by professor of polymer physics Eugene M. Terentjev of APRA ...
- The Discovery of Liquid Crystals: A Case Study in Support of Basic Research – Part Bon January 26, 2023 at 11:54 am
You may recognize the term liquid crystal in modern display technologies, from wristwatches and smartphones to laptop computers and flat panel televisions; it is what LC stands for in the acronym LCD.
- Optical Fingerprinting of Dynamic Interfacial Reaction Pathways Using Liquid Crystalson January 24, 2023 at 2:59 pm
Liquid crystals (LCs) have been used to detect simple chemical ... TEA12 adsorption characterizations, reproductions of responsive LC experiments, micrographs for adsorption of products on LC films ...
- Researchers develop jumping liquid crystal elastomeron January 23, 2023 at 2:17 am
The new research takes advantage of the unusual behavior of a class of materials called liquid crystal elastomers. These materials are solid and stretchy polymer versions of the liquid crystals found ...
- Multiphysics modelling of light-actuated liquid crystal elastomerson January 21, 2023 at 7:27 am
Within the realm of active materials, liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are a promising class of responsive polymers gathering peculiar properties of fluids and solids at the same time. LCEs possess ...
- Discotic Liquid Crystals with Highly Ordered Columnar Hexagonal Structure for Ultraviolet Light-Sensitive Phototransistor Memoryon January 20, 2023 at 7:05 pm
Article Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to ...
- Liquid Crystal Displays Market Share : Industry Trends, Growth, Size and Segmentation by 2023 to 2028on January 18, 2023 at 9:11 am
Jan 18, 2023 (The Expresswire) -- Final Report will add the analysis of the impact of Russia-Ukraine War and COVID-19 on this Liquid Crystal Displays industry. A latest extensive market study ...
- Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS)on January 14, 2023 at 9:52 am
What Does Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) Mean? Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) is a reflective microdisplay technology that is based on a silicon backplate. It is a combination of digital light ...
- Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCPs) Market Share From 2023 To 2029 And Unlimited Opportunities for New Companies and Latest Developmentson January 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm
"Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCPs) Market" studies the global Market Size and Forecast by 2023-2029. The report includes a comprehensive study on the definition, classification and market survey of ...
- Crafting A Liquid Crystal Displayon January 11, 2023 at 4:00 pm
After watching [Ben Krasnow]’s efforts to build a liquid crystal display, we can easily see why the suits thought what they did. It’s an amazing engineering feat. Before building his own ...
via Bing News