Dynamically morphing microchannels in liquid crystal elastomer coatings with extended disclinations

ORAL

Abstract

Topological defects in liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) drive complex stimuli-responsive deformation. Previous studies examined short disclinations oriented parallel to the surface normal of a thin film or coating [1-3]. Here we examine an array of parallel extended disclinations oriented in-plane in an LCE coating on a rigid substrate, produced by forming the LCE between substrates with prescribed anchoring [4]. On heating, the coating morphs to form an array of parallel microchannels, each located above a disclination. To understand this shape evolution, we model formation of disclinations via numerical minimization of the Frank free energy, then use finite element simulation to calculate thermo-responsive deformation. Results are compared with experiments and with analytical calculations in the small-strain limit. We demonstrate use of thermo-responsive microchannels to perform particle sorting. Future uses may include applications in microfluidics and tissue engineering. [1] McConney et al, Adv Mater 25, 5880 (2013); [2] Babakhanova et al Nat Commun 9, 456 (2018); [3] Konya et al, Front Mater 3, 24 (2016); [4] Wang et al Nat Commun 8, 388 (2017).

*Support by NSF DMR-1409658, CMMI-1663041, CMMI-1436565, Office of Sciences DOE grant DE-SC0019105.

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Presenters

  • Robin Selinger

    • Kent State University

Authors

  • Robin Selinger

    • Kent State University

  • Greta Babakhanova

    • Kent State University
    • Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA

  • Youssef Mosaddeghian Golestani

    • Kent State University

  • Sajedeh Afghah

    • Kent State University

  • Michael P Varga

    • Kent State University

  • Paul Shiller

    • University of Akron

  • Hao Yu

    • Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State Univeristy

  • Irakli Chaganava

    • Georgian Technical University
    • Institute of Cybernetics, Georgian Technical University, 0186 Tbilisi, Georgia

  • Jonathan Selinger

    • Kent State University

  • Qi-Huo Wei

    • Kent State University
    • Advanced Material and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH44242
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Physics Department, Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State Univeristy

  • O D Lavrentovich

    • Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, 44242, USA
    • Department of Physics and Advanced Materials Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute and Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program and Physics Department, Kent State University
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State Univeristy
    • Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute / Department of Physics, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
    • Department of Physics, Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute, Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program, Kent State University