Tailoring the interfaces between nematic liquid crystal emulsions and aqueous phases via layer-by-layer assembly

Elvira Tjipto; Katie D Cadwell; John F Quinn; Angus P R Johnston; Nicholas L Abbott; Frank Caruso

doi:10.1021/nl061604p

Tailoring the interfaces between nematic liquid crystal emulsions and aqueous phases via layer-by-layer assembly

Nano Lett. 2006 Oct;6(10):2243-8. doi: 10.1021/nl061604p.

Authors

Elvira Tjipto¹, Katie D Cadwell, John F Quinn, Angus P R Johnston, Nicholas L Abbott, Frank Caruso

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

PMID: 17034091
DOI: 10.1021/nl061604p

Abstract

We report the assembly of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films at the interfaces of thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) droplets dispersed in an aqueous phase. Exposure of PEM-coated droplets to surfactant slowed the bipolar-to-radial ordering transition of the LCs by 2 orders of magnitude relative to naked droplets. This shows that PEMs can be used to influence the interactions of analytes with the LC cores of the droplets, allowing tuning of the LC emulsion sensing properties.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Crystallization / methods*
Emulsions
Liquid Crystals / chemistry*
Materials Testing
Nanostructures / chemistry*
Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
Particle Size
Phase Transition
Solutions
Surface Properties
Water / chemistry*

Substances

Emulsions
Solutions
Water