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).

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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