Modulating the Conductivity of Light-Responsive Ionic Liquid Crystals

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: In this work, we describe the phase behaviour and the dielectric and conductivity response of new light-responsive ionic liquid crystals, ILCs, which can be applied as controllable electrolytes. The materials include two different dicationic viologens, the asymmetric 6BP18 and the symmetric EV2ON(Tf)2, containing bistriflimide as the counterions, mixed with 5% and 50% molar, respectively, of one new photoresponsive mesogen called CNAzO14. These mixtures exhibit liquid crystal behaviour, light responsiveness through the E-Z photoisomerisation of the azobenzene groups in CNAzO14, and strong dielectric responses. The 5%-CNAzO14/Ev2ON(Tf)2 mixture displays direct current conductivities in the 10−7 S·cm−1 range, which can be increased by a two-fold factor upon the irradiation of UV light at 365 nm. Our findings set the grounds for designing new smart ionic soft materials with nanostructures that can be tuned and used for energy conversion and storage applications.

Source: Molecules

DOI: 10.3390/molecules29184459

Authors: Umama Bendaoud, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Si L. Chen, Haesook Han, Seonghyeok L. Cox, Jasmin Liebsch, M. Blanca Ros, Thamil Selvi Velayutham, Nurul Fadhilah Kamalul Aripin, Alfonso Martinez-Felipe

Institutions: University of Aberdeen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón, University of Malaya, Universiti Teknologi MARA System, Universiti Teknologi MARA

Language: English

Topic: Liquid Crystal Research Advancements

Subfield: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,069

Funders: NHS Health Scotland, British Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, University of Aberdeen, Universiti Malaya

OpenAlex ID: W4402691748