A Two-Stage Polymerization Strategy for Preparing Polymer-Network Liquid Crystals with Oxygen-Sensing Property

Liu, Zongdai1,2; Zhang, Zhibo1; Zhang, Yi1; Luo, Dan2; Yang, Kun-Lin1

2024-06-01

10.1002/adpr.202300340

ADVANCED PHOTONICS RESEARCH   影响因子和分区

2699-9293

["Polymer-network liquid crystal (PNLC) possesses both advantages of low-molecular-weight liquid crystal (LMWLC) and liquid crystal (LC) polymer. Herein, a two-stage polymerization strategy for the formation of unique PNLC with oxygen-sensing properties is reported. The reaction mixture consists of 6% diacrylate RM257, 93.5% LMWLC 4-cyano-4 '-pentylbiphenyl (5CB), and 0.5% photoinitiator dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA). In the first stage, the mixture is exposed to UV light for 2 min to form a primary polymer network, which is highly uniform with a planar orientation. However, some free radicals are trapped inside the LC due to the short UV exposure time. Subsequently, the trapped free radicals are released by heating the PNLC sample into an isotropic state. Under this condition, the free radicals can move freely and react with surrounding monomers to form a secondary polymer network, which is highly disordered and scatters light strongly. Because oxygen can deactivate free radicals trapped inside the PNLC, the phenomenon to detect oxygen and monitor the diffusion of oxygen through the PNLC is exploited. The PNLC-based oxygen sensor is potentially useful for the detection of oxygen and monitoring the exposure time to oxygen.","After partially completed photopolymerization, the polymer-network liquid crystal undergoes a secondary polymerization to form an isotropic polymer network when it is heated beyond its clearing point, resulting in an irreversible optical appearance change from transparent to cloudy. It enables applications such as a heating stopwatch and oxygen sensor.image (c) 2024 WILEY-VCH GmbH"]

free radicals liquid crystals oxygen sensors phase transition polymer networks

ESCI ; EI

英语

通讯

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)["62175098","U22A20163"] ; National Key Research and Development Program of China[2022YFA1203702] ; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2021B1515020097]

Materials Science ; Optics

Materials Science, Multidisciplinary ; Optics

WOS:001256797300001

WILEY

Web of Science

1.Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Chem & Biomol Engn, 4 Engn Dr 4, Singapore 117585, Singapore
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Elect & Elect Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Liu, Zongdai,Zhang, Zhibo,Zhang, Yi,et al. A Two-Stage Polymerization Strategy for Preparing Polymer-Network Liquid Crystals with Oxygen-Sensing Property[J]. ADVANCED PHOTONICS RESEARCH,2024.

Liu, Zongdai,Zhang, Zhibo,Zhang, Yi,Luo, Dan,&Yang, Kun-Lin.(2024).A Two-Stage Polymerization Strategy for Preparing Polymer-Network Liquid Crystals with Oxygen-Sensing Property.ADVANCED PHOTONICS RESEARCH.

Liu, Zongdai,et al."A Two-Stage Polymerization Strategy for Preparing Polymer-Network Liquid Crystals with Oxygen-Sensing Property".ADVANCED PHOTONICS RESEARCH (2024).