Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Photoresponsive Behavior of Liquid Crystals Based on Azobenzene

Yaming Wu; Yuhai Liu; Jianxiang Chen; Runmiao Yang

doi:10.3390/cryst11121560

Crystals (Dec 2021)

Synthesis, Self-Assembly and Photoresponsive Behavior of Liquid Crystals Based on Azobenzene

Yaming Wu,
Yuhai Liu,
Jianxiang Chen,
Runmiao Yang

Affiliations

Yaming Wu: School of Life and Health, Nanjing Polytechnic Institute, Nanjing 210048, China
Yuhai Liu: School of Material Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, China
Jianxiang Chen: School of Material Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, China
Runmiao Yang: School of Material Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst11121560
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 12
p. 1560

Abstract

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A new amphiphilic surfactant (C4-Azo-C5-HDA) was formed by liquid crystals (LCs) based on azobenzene, whose structures were characterized by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The reversible hydrogelation upon changes in temperature and light exposure was also studied. Under the irradiation of UV light, the trans-isomer of C4-Azo-C5-HDA rapidly photoisomerized to the cis-isomer, resulting in rapid disruption of the gel. The thermotropic liquid crystal behavior of the gelator was investigated via Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Polarizing Optical Microscopy (POM). The biocompatibility experiment of multi-stimulus response of the liquid crystal provides a potential driving force for the development of biomaterials.

Published in Crystals

ISSN: 2073-4352 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry: Crystallography
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/crystals/

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