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Title: Liquid crystalline networks based on photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry

Abstract

Photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry is used to develop shape memory liquid crystalline networks (LCNs). A biphenyl-based di-vinyl monomer is synthesized and cured with a di-thiol chain extender and a tetra-thiol crosslinker using UV light. The effects of photo-initiator concentration and UV light intensity on the curing behavior and liquid crystalline (LC) properties of the LCNs are investigated. The chemical composition is found to significantly influence the microstructure and the related thermomechanical properties of the LCNs. The structure–property relationship is further explored using molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that the introduction of the chain extender promotes the formation of an ordered smectic LC phase instead of agglomerated structures. The concentration of the chain extender affects the liquid crystallinity of the LCNs, resulting in distinct thermomechanical and shape memory properties. Finally, this class of LCNs exhibits fast curing rates, high conversion levels, and tailorable liquid crystallinity, making it a promising material system for advanced manufacturing, where complex and highly ordered structures can be produced with fast reaction kinetics and low energy consumption.

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1];  [3];  [3];  [3];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [4]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Shannxi Univ. of Science and Technology, Xi'an (China)
  3. Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
  4. North Dakota State Univ., Fargo, ND (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1649610
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1580135
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Soft Matter (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Soft Matter (Online); Journal Volume: 16; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1744-6848
Publisher:
Royal Society of Chemistry
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Li, Yuzhan, Zhang, Yuehong, Goswami, Monojoy, Vincent, Dan, Wang, Liwei, Liu, Tuan, Li, Kai, Keum, Jong K., Gao, Zhenhua, Ozcan, Soydan, Gluesenkamp, Kyle R., Rios, Orlando, and Kessler, Michael R. Liquid crystalline networks based on photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry. United States: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1039/C9SM01818B.
Li, Yuzhan, Zhang, Yuehong, Goswami, Monojoy, Vincent, Dan, Wang, Liwei, Liu, Tuan, Li, Kai, Keum, Jong K., Gao, Zhenhua, Ozcan, Soydan, Gluesenkamp, Kyle R., Rios, Orlando, & Kessler, Michael R. Liquid crystalline networks based on photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry. United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9SM01818B
Li, Yuzhan, Zhang, Yuehong, Goswami, Monojoy, Vincent, Dan, Wang, Liwei, Liu, Tuan, Li, Kai, Keum, Jong K., Gao, Zhenhua, Ozcan, Soydan, Gluesenkamp, Kyle R., Rios, Orlando, and Kessler, Michael R. Tue . "Liquid crystalline networks based on photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry". United States. https://doi.org/10.1039/C9SM01818B. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1649610.
@article{osti_1649610,
title = {Liquid crystalline networks based on photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry},
author = {Li, Yuzhan and Zhang, Yuehong and Goswami, Monojoy and Vincent, Dan and Wang, Liwei and Liu, Tuan and Li, Kai and Keum, Jong K. and Gao, Zhenhua and Ozcan, Soydan and Gluesenkamp, Kyle R. and Rios, Orlando and Kessler, Michael R.},
abstractNote = {Photo-initiated thiol–ene click chemistry is used to develop shape memory liquid crystalline networks (LCNs). A biphenyl-based di-vinyl monomer is synthesized and cured with a di-thiol chain extender and a tetra-thiol crosslinker using UV light. The effects of photo-initiator concentration and UV light intensity on the curing behavior and liquid crystalline (LC) properties of the LCNs are investigated. The chemical composition is found to significantly influence the microstructure and the related thermomechanical properties of the LCNs. The structure–property relationship is further explored using molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that the introduction of the chain extender promotes the formation of an ordered smectic LC phase instead of agglomerated structures. The concentration of the chain extender affects the liquid crystallinity of the LCNs, resulting in distinct thermomechanical and shape memory properties. Finally, this class of LCNs exhibits fast curing rates, high conversion levels, and tailorable liquid crystallinity, making it a promising material system for advanced manufacturing, where complex and highly ordered structures can be produced with fast reaction kinetics and low energy consumption.},
doi = {10.1039/C9SM01818B},
journal = {Soft Matter (Online)},
number = 7,
volume = 16,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}

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