Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Shells as Enabling Material for Information-Rich Design and Architecture

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-26-2018

Abstract

The responsive and dynamic character of liquid crystals (LCs), arising from their ability to self-organize into long-range ordered structures while maintaining fluidity, has given them a role as key enabling materials in the information technology that surrounds us today. Ongoing research hints at future LC-based technologies of entirely different types, for instance by taking advantage of the peculiar behavior of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) subject to curvature. Spherical shells of CLC reflect light omnidirectionally with specific polarization and wavelength, tunable from the UV to the infrared (IR) range, with complex patterns arising when many of them are brought together. Here, these properties are analyzed and explained, and future application opportunities from an interdisciplinary standpoint are discussed. By incorporating arrangements of CLC shells in smart facades or vehicle coatings, or in objects of high value subject to counterfeiting, game-changing future uses might arise in fields spanning information security, design, and architecture. The focus here is on the challenges of a digitized and information-rich future society where humans increasingly rely on technology and share their space with autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots.

Identifier

85047395889 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Advanced Materials

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201707382

e-ISSN

15214095

ISSN

09359648

PubMed ID

29756303

Issue

30

Volume

30

Grant

9472655

Fund Ref

Université du Luxembourg

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