Amphiphile-Induced Phase Transition of Liquid Crystals at Aqueous Interfaces
We report that monolayer assemblies of amphiphiles at planar interfaces between thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) and an aqueous phase can give rise to configurational transitions of the underlying LCs. A common assumption has been that a reconfiguration of the LC phase is caused by an interdigitation of the hydrophobic tails of amphiphiles with the molecules of the LC at the interface. A different mechanism is discovered here, whereby reorientation of the LC systems is shown to occur through lowering of the orientation-dependent surface energy of the LC due to formation of a thin isotropic layer at the aqueous interface. Using a combination of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations and experiments, we demonstrate that a monolayer of specific amphiphiles at an aqueous interface can cause a local nematic-to-isotropic phase transition of the LC by disturbing the antiparallel configuration of the LC molecules. Lastly, these results provide new insights into the interfacial, molecular-level organization of LCs that can be exploited for rational design of biological sensors and responsive systems.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Army Research Office; USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC02-06CH11357
- OSTI ID:
- 1498497
- Journal Information:
- ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Name: ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces Journal Issue: 43 Vol. 10; ISSN 1944-8244
- Publisher:
- American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Soft matter from liquid crystals
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journal | January 2019 |
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