SONS - Liquid Crystals Nano-particles

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Heinz-Siegfried Kitzerow
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2006 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 24981730

Liquid crystals (LCs) are the quintessential, self-organising, molecular materials of the modern era. The ease with which they can be reoriented in electrical, magnetic and mechanical fields has led to a plethora of applications, including displays, sensors, and light-modulators etc. In this project we propose an innovative approach towards combining the newly established field of nano-structuring with that of liquid crystals. Thus we propose the synthesis, analysis, characterization and physico-chemical studies of liquid crystal mesogenic materials bound to central scaffolds of various chemical types, in order to give liquid crystal nano-particles. In contrast to existing materials, nano-structured LCs can combine self-organisation with the ability to form secondary and tertiary structures, in a structural hierarchy similar to that found for proteins. Furthermore, superand supra-molecular LCs can exhibit a variety of physical properties which make them attractive for applications in the fields of nano-science, materials and biology. Anticipating such exciting developments, we intend to utilise the unique self-organising abilities of LCs in a bottom-up approach to the creation of ordered arrays of nano-particles, rather than the currently used, but self-limiting, top-down methodologies. In taking this approach, we will be able to prepare liquid-crystalline nano-particles with hierarchical hybrid structures with specific built-in functionality. The studies of the proposed CRP are relevant to several themes of the SONS programme: Nanostructured materials, Synthesis of 1-, 2- and 3-dimensional nano-objects, Hierarchical self-assembly, Theoretical models and simulations, Molecular and supramolecular electronics, Opto-electronics properties of self-assemblies and Self-assembled nanomagnets.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Poland, Spain, United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Professor John Goodby, Ph.D.; Professorin Dr. Ewa Gorecka; Professor Dr. Jose Serrano