Alcohol-responsive, hydrogen-bonded, cholesteric liquid-crystal networks

Chin Kai Chang, Cees M.W. Bastiaansen, Dirk J. Broer, Hui Lung Kuo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hydrogen-bridged, cholesteric liquid-crystal (CLC) polymer networks are adopted as an optical sensor material to distinguish between ethanol and methanol. Fast uptake of the alcohols is facilitated by an incorporated porosity created by breaking the hydrogen bridges and by a previously removed non-reactive liquid-crystal agent. The discrimination between the alcohols is based on the diversity in molecular affinity of ethanol and methanol with the hydrogen-bridged CLC polymer networks. The CLC networks are molecular-helix- based, one-dimensional bandgap materials with a discrete reflection band in the visible part of the spectrum that depends on the pitch of the molecular helix. The changes in positions of the reflection bands of the CLC network accurately discriminate between the alcohol types and provide information on their ratio in case they are blended.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2855-2859
Number of pages5
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume22
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012 Jul 10

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Science(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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