Artificial colloidal liquid metacrystals by shearing microlithography

Yanqiu Jiang, Fan Guo, Zhen Xu (), Weiwei Gao and Chao Gao ()
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Yanqiu Jiang: Zhejiang University
Fan Guo: Zhejiang University
Zhen Xu: Zhejiang University
Weiwei Gao: Zhejiang University
Chao Gao: Zhejiang University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Meta-periodicity beyond intrinsic atomic and molecular order, such as metacrystalline and quasicrystalline lattices, exists in solids, but is usually elusive in lyotropic liquid crystals for its energetic instability. The stable meta-periodicity in lyotropic liquid crystals in the absence of external stimuli remains unexplored, and how to achieve it keeps a great challenge. Here we create lyotropic liquid crystals with stable meta-periodicity in a free state, coined as liquid metacrystals, in colloidal systems by an invented shearing microlithography. The meta-periodicity is dynamically stabilized by the giant molecular size and strong excluded volume repulsion. Liquid metacrystals are designed to completely cover a library of symmetries, including five Bravais and six quasicrystalline lattices. Liquid metacrystal promises an extended form of liquid crystals with rich meta-periodicity and the shearing microlithography emerges as a facile technology to fabricate liquid meta-structures and metamaterials, enabling the digital design of structures and functionalities of liquid crystalline materials.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11941-z

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