Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
George Cordoyiannis, Marta Lavric, Vasileios Tzitzios, Maja Trcek, Ioannis Lelidis, George Nounesis, Samo Kralj, Jan Thoen, Zdravko Kutnjak
Summary: Recent experimental studies have focused on the nanoparticle-driven stabilization of chiral liquid-crystalline phases, showcasing the importance of understanding interactions of nanoparticles with defects and potential technological applications. The role of nanoparticle core composition, size, shape, and surface coating on stabilization effects have been demonstrated, along with comparisons to other related studies in the literature. Key mechanisms underlying the stabilization process are summarized, with prospects for future research briefly discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
P. Romero-Hasler, E. A. Soto-Bustamante, C. Parry-Mix, B. I. Ostrovskii
Summary: A series of 4-alkyloxyphenyl 4-(6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyloxy))benzoate monomers were synthesized and characterized. The study reveals the presence of both the nematic and monolayered orthogonal smectic A phase in the M6En series. It was found that monomers with a terminal chain length of five to twelve carbon atoms exhibit a wide temperature range of stable smectic A phase and a narrow intervening nematic phase at higher temperatures. The phase diagram and mesogenic properties of the M6En series are discussed in relation to the molecular structure of these monomers.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vivek P. Chavda, Sathish Dyawanapelly, Shilpa Dawre, Ines Ferreira-Faria, Rajashri Bezbaruah, Niva Rani Gogoi, Praveen Kolimi, Divyang J. Dave, Ana Claudia Paiva-Santos, Lalitkumar K. Vora
Summary: Liquid crystal-based nanoformulations are efficient in delivering drugs and therapeutics to specific biological sites. Lyotropic liquid crystalline phases (LLCPs) have unique characteristics that make them promising drug delivery systems, offering improved drug loading, stability, and controlled release. Factors such as molecule shape, microsegregation, and chirality play important roles in the formation of these liquid crystalline phases. Additionally, due to their similarity to biological membranes, liquid crystals demonstrate higher bioadhesivity and biocompatibility, making them more effective for targeted drug delivery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manlin Zhang, Michael Lindner-D'Addario, Mahdi Roohnikan, Violeta Toader, Robert Bruce Lennox, Linda Reven
Summary: This study investigates the dispersion of ethylene oxide oligomers and polymers, both free and tethered to gold nanoparticles, in blue phase liquid crystals (BPLC). The results show that the functionalization and molecular weight of the gold nanoparticles can affect the stability and temperature range of the blue phase.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kyle R. Schlafmann, Timothy J. White
Summary: The researchers have successfully synthesized liquid crystalline elastomers that retain the blue phase structure, allowing for color changes upon deformation. Blue phases form a three-dimensional crystalline structure in chiral liquid crystalline compositions, serving as photonic crystals with specific reflection properties under mechanical deformation and chemical swelling.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
D. V. Louzguine-Luzgin, Yu. P. Ivanov, A. L. Greer
Summary: The crystallization behavior of a Cu58Y37Sc5 metallic glassy alloy was investigated using various methods. Differential scanning and isothermal calorimetries were performed to study the phase transformations. X-ray diffractometry studies showed the simultaneous formation of Cu2Y, CuY, and CuSc crystalline phases, indicating eutectic crystallization, while the isothermal crystallization kinetics corresponded to primary crystallization. Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed a complex crystallization process involving heterogeneous nucleation on pre-existing particles.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Priyanki Kalita, Ayon Bhattacharjee
Summary: Liquid crystal-based biosensors have been proven as effective and simple detection tools for biomolecules and chemical events. In this study, a biosensor utilizing the orientational reordering of liquid crystals in the presence of protein was reported. The liquid crystal 4'-pentyl-4-biphenylcarbonitrile was used to detect human serum albumin, and the detection limit was determined to be 100 mu M. Molecular docking and Raman spectroscopy were employed to investigate the interaction between the liquid crystal and protein, including the binding sites, active residues, and binding energies. The experimental results confirmed the successful interaction between the liquid crystal and human serum albumin, demonstrating the potential applications of liquid crystals in the field of biosensing.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
T. Vasanthi, V. Balasubramanian, S. Balamuralikrishnan, V. N. Vijayakumar
Summary: Dye-doped hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals have been prepared and characterized for their optical and thermal properties. The study shows that the dye-doped liquid crystals exhibit thermochromic effect and color changes. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis reveals that the dye-doped hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals have extended phase width and lower bandgap energy. Additionally, quenching of different smectic phases into a single phase is observed in the dye-doped hydrogen-bonded liquid crystals.
RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY A
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jessie Wong, Violeta Toader, Linda Reven
Summary: This study demonstrates that lyotropic liquid crystalline (LC) nanomaterials can be achieved from spherical nanoparticles (NPs) with semi-flexible polymer ligands. The high degree of orientation order of the magnetized materials indicates that the splaying of the ligand shell transforms the spherical NPs into rod-like shapes, which then assemble to produce lyotropic LC phases and linear NP arrays.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kamil Orzechowski, Martyna Tupikowska, Olga Strzezysz, Ting-Mao Feng, Wei-Yuan Chen, Liang-Ying Wu, Chun-Ta Wang, Eva Oton, Michal M. Wojcik, Maciej Baginski, Piotr Lesiak, Wiktor Lewandowski, Tomasz R. Wolinski
Summary: It has been demonstrated that small achiral gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) decorated with liquid crystal-like ligands can enhance the chiral twist and thermal stability of blue phase liquid crystals (BPLCs). The functionalization of Au NPs plays a critical role in the phase sequence of BPLCs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrey A. Sokolov, Mikhail I. Yagofarov, Ilya S. Balakhontsev, Ilyas I. Nizamov, Timur A. Mukhametzyanov, Boris N. Solomonov, Yana N. Yurkshtovich, Elena N. Stepurko
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive investigation of the thermodynamic properties of 3- and 4-ethoxyacetanilides was conducted. Various calorimetric techniques were used to determine heat capacities, fusion enthalpies, and standard thermodynamic functions, resulting in consistent findings.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. A. Shtykova, M. S. Molokeev, B. A. Zakharov, N. V. Selezneva, A. S. Aleksandrovsky, R. S. Bubnova, D. N. Kamaev, A. A. Gubin, N. N. Habibullaev, A. V. Matigorov, E. V. Boldyreva, O. V. Andreev
Summary: The phase diagram of the Cu2-XSe-Sb2Se3 system is revisited to resolve ambiguities in previous data. New compounds and their stability temperatures were identified through crystal structure analysis and energy band gap measurements. The thermal expansion characteristics of different phases were determined, and equilibrium equations for phase transformations involving all ternary compounds in the system were proposed. The complete phase diagram of the Cu2-XSe-Sb2Se3 system, including the liquidus, was established for the first time, with good agreement between calculated and experimental data.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
N. N. Smirnova, A. Markin, N. Abarbanel, P. E. Goryunova, S. S. Sologubov, L. Kolesnikova, O. N. Golodkov, E. O. Perepelitsyna, D. Anokhin
Summary: The temperature dependence of the molar heat capacity of a partially crystalline polyoxime was measured and its standard thermodynamic properties were determined and compared with an alternating polyketone previously studied.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THERMODYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mohamed A. Kolmangadi, Arda Yildirim, Kathrin Sentker, Martin Butschies, Andrea Buehlmeyer, Patrick Huber, Sabine Laschat, Andreas Schoenhals
Summary: The molecular mobility and conductivity of four bent shaped tetramethylated guanidinium based ionic liquid crystals with varying head group configuration and alkyl chain length were investigated using BDS and SHS techniques. Different relaxation processes and conductivity contributions were observed for the different ILCs, which may be related to their distinct molecular structures and formation mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Carmine Anzivino, Rene van Roij, Marjolein Dijkstra
Summary: Using a grand-canonical Landau-de Gennes theory, this study investigates the local density of twist-bend and splay-bend nematic phases in colloidal suspensions of bent rods. The findings show periodic modulations of local density in the splay-bend phase, making it similar to a smectic phase rather than a nematic phase. In contrast, the twist-bend phase exhibits no spatial variation in local density, confirming it as a proper nematic phase. The predicted density modulations in splay-bend phases are consistent with recent simulations.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wei Yu, Olivier Deschaume, Lens Dedroog, Christian Jose Garcia Abrego, Pengfei Zhang, Jolan Wellens, Yovan de Coene, Stijn Jooken, Koen Clays, Wim Thielemans, Christ Glorieux, Carmen Bartic
Summary: This study introduces a multifunctional platform based on a nanocomposite hydrogel, capable of inducing 3D temperature gradients, monitoring temperature changes, and achieving controllable and reversible deformation of the hydrogel. This platform provides a novel approach for studying cellular thermobiology and mechanobiology.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jus Polansek, Arbresha Holbl, Szymon Starzonek, Aleksandra Drozd-Rzoska, Sylwester J. Rzoska, Samo Kralj
Summary: This article discusses historical dependence behavior in domain-type configurations formed in continuous symmetry-breaking phase transitions. Domains can be arrested due to topological defects formed at domain walls, while random-field disorder and system stiffness affect domain arrestment. The interactions and structural excitations in the established domain-type patterns can be described using random matrices and eigenvectors. The characteristics of the eigenvectors will determine the behavior of the system, which can exhibit glass-type structure or critical-like phase behavior.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sasa Harkai, Samo Kralj
Summary: This paper performs numerical simulations to study the topological defects in liquid crystals and their structures near boundaries. By simulating polarized optical microscopy images, the study reveals the structures of closed disclination loops with or without topological charges, and shows the repulsion or attraction interactions between chargeless disclination loops.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Apostolos Koutsioukis, Georgios Florakis, Nikolaos Samartzis, Spyros N. N. Yannopoulos, Michalis Stavrou, Dionysia Theodoropoulou, Nikolaos Chazapis, Stelios Couris, Argiris Kolokithas-Ntoukas, Georgios Asimakopoulos, Dimitrios P. P. Gournis, Vasileios Tzitzios, Elias Sakellis, Stylianos F. F. Tombros, Sotirios Kokkalas, Vasilios Georgakilas
Summary: This article describes a green procedure for the liquid exfoliation of natural hematite and magnetite, resulting in the formation of stable dispersions of hematene and magnetene, respectively. The ultrathin exfoliated nanoplatelets show promising efficiency in optical limiting experiments, making them highly attractive for opto-electronics and photonics applications.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boxiao Fu, Vasileios Tzitzios, Qiancheng Zhang, Brian Rodriguez, Michael Pissas, Maria Veronica Sofianos
Summary: In this study, manganese mono-boride nanoflakes were synthesized using a simple one-pot chemical reduction method at room temperature. The influence of specific surface area and boron content on the magnetic and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoflakes was investigated. The sample with the highest specific surface area and boron content showed the best magnetic and electrocatalytic properties in the HER, while the sample with the lowest specific surface area and boron content exhibited the best electric conductivity and electrocatalytic properties in the OER.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arbresha Holbl, Luka Mesarec, Jus Polansek, Ales Iglix, Samo Kralj
Summary: We studied general mechanisms for stabilizing localized assemblies of topological defects. Physical fields represent fundamental entities in nature and are of interest to all branches of physics. The cores of defects are energetically costly and unfavorable, but thermotropic nematic liquid crystals provide an ideal experimental platform for studying defects and have potential applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Iosif Tantis, Smita Talande, Vasileios Tzitzios, Georgia Basina, Vishal Shrivastav, Aristides Bakandritsos, Radek Zboril
Summary: This review focuses on recent advances in electrochemical energy storage (EES) technologies related to 2D crystals originating from non-layered 3D solids (non-van der Waals; nvdW) and their influence on the materials' features. The methods and challenges in top-down and bottom-up strategies towards nvdW 2D sheets and their applications in EES are discussed. Moreover, the opportunities and challenges of nvdW 2D systems in various applications are highlighted.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Crystallography
Sasa Harkai, Charles Rosenblatt, Samo Kralj
Summary: In this study, we numerically investigate the reconfiguration process of colliding 1/2 strength disclinations in an achiral nematic liquid crystal. We find that under certain initial conditions, these disclinations undergo reconfiguration at critical angles, leading to the formation of new defect structures.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Niki Karouta, Yannis V. Simos, Georgia Basina, Konstantinos Spyrou, Mohammed Subrati, Alexandra V. Chatzikonstantinou, Mohamed Amen Hammami, Vasileios Tzitzios, Saeed M. Alhassan, Yasser Al Wahedi, Alexios P. Douvalis, George C. Hadjipanayis, Konstantinos Tsamis, Evangelia Dounousi, Georgios S. Markopoulos, Sofia Bellou, Vasilios Georgakilas, Dimitrios Peschos, Zili Sideratou, Haralambos Stamatis, Dimitrios P. Gournis, Emmanuel P. Giannelis
Summary: This study presents a new strategy for designing highly hydrophilic and functional nanoparticles through a haircut reaction. The as-synthesized SPIONs, modified by oleylamine molecules, exhibit high hydrophilicity, dispersibility in water, and functionality. These functional nanoparticles show selective cytotoxic effects against cancer cells and have the potential to be developed into a new generation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
An-Sofie Huysecom, Christ Glorieux, Jan Thoen, Wim Thielemans, Charles-Andre Fustin, Paula Moldenaers, Ruth Cardinaels
Summary: This article investigates the micellization process of block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO). The results show that multiblock copolymers have lower transition temperatures and higher thermodynamic driving forces for micellization compared to triblock copolymers, due to the presence of multiple PPO blocks per chain. With increasing concentration, multiblock copolymers gradually form a viscoelastic network formed by soluble bridges in between micellar nodes, while triblock micelles jam into liquid crystalline phases resembling an elastic colloidal crystal.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Hamdi Ezzin, Souhail Dahmen, Zhenghua Qian, Christ Glorieux, Raj Das
Summary: This paper studies the dispersion curve of guided modes in a cubic Ni-Mn-Ga thin plate. It reports exceptional dispersion behavior with multiple crossings between antisymmetric (An) and symmetric (Sn) Lamb modes. In addition, several dispersion branches contain one or more zero group velocity (ZGV) points. The number of ZGV points per symmetric mode Sn and per antisymmetric mode An is found to be 3n-2.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dejvid Cresnar, Nikita Derets, Maja Trcek, Gregor Skacej, Andraz Resetic, Marta Lavric, Valentina Domenici, Bostjan Zalar, Samo Kralj, Zdravko Kutnjak, Brigita Rozic
Summary: With the increasing environmental awareness, the focus of scientific studies has shifted towards finding more environmentally friendly heat-management techniques. Recently, the caloric properties of soft materials, such as liquid crystals and liquid crystal elastomers, have attracted attention due to their large caloric effects. Measurements have shown that these soft materials can exhibit significant caloric effects at much lower fields compared to solid caloric materials, making them promising candidates for new heat-management devices.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS-ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Lukas Zelem, Vojtech Chmelik, Christ Glorieux, Monika Rychtarikova
Summary: This article discusses the impact of occupancy level, average acoustic absorption, and acoustic capacity on the behavior of people in eating establishments. The Lombard effect was observed in all tested settings. The sound pressure level in a restaurant increased by over 3 dB per doubling of occupancy when the average absorbing surface was 2.4 m(2) or more per person. In the student canteen, people communicated less when the absorbing surface dropped below 1.5 m(2)/person (80 people). Other tested restaurants had occupancy rates below 60%, well below the acoustic capacity.
Article
Acoustics
Monika Rychtarikova, Lukas Zelem, Vojtech Chmelik, Simon Bailhache, Christ Glorieux
Summary: This article presents an alternative approach to testing the airborne sound insulation properties of partition walls by using a large number of real-life sound stimuli combinations. It utilizes Zwicker's Loudness to quantify the subjective loudness of sound passing through walls and derive the subjectively perceived sound insulation. The adequacy of currently used single number quantities and newly proposed ones are compared.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
J. Thoen, G. Cordoyiannis, W. Jiang, G. H. Mehl, C. Glorieux
Summary: High-resolution calorimetry is an effective method to study phase transitions in liquid crystals. The adiabatic scanning calorimetry results show that the temperature range of the intermediate phase in DIO-RM734 mixtures decreases with decreasing xDIO, and both transitions are weakly first order.
