Shape-transformable molecular additives with photoresponsivity, such as azobenzene or spiropyran, in matter are known to decrease the local order parameter and lead to drastic state variations under light irradiation. For example, a liquid crystalline state can be transformed to an isotropic liquid state by photo-exciting a tiny amount of azobenzene additives from trans- to cis-conformers. On the other hand, structural or shape transformation without changing the phase state is also intriguing since it offers an opportunity for manipulating specific structures. Here, we demonstrate an active control of the topology of chiral particle-like twisting structures, dubbed toron, by light. Interestingly, the individual twisting structure is fully reconfigurable between spherical and unique branched topological states. We reveal that the shape transformation is driven by the free-energy competition between the variation of surface anchoring strength and the elastic energy stored in the twisting structure. The mean-field simulation based on the Landau–de Gennes framework shows that the elastic anisotropy plays the dominant role in modifying the toron topology upon weak anchoring. The results offer a new path for understanding the process of topology-involved shape transformation and fabrication of novel functional materials.
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14 August 2021
Rapid Communication|
August 09 2021
Photo-reconfigurable twisting structure in chiral liquid crystals triggered by photoresponsive surface
Junichi Kougo;
Junichi Kougo
1
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou 510640, China
2
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Fumito Araoka;
Fumito Araoka
3
RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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Osamu Haba;
Osamu Haba
4
Graduate School of Organic Materials Science, Yamagata University
, Yonezawa 992-8510, Yamagata, Japan
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Koichiro Yonetake
;
Koichiro Yonetake
4
Graduate School of Organic Materials Science, Yamagata University
, Yonezawa 992-8510, Yamagata, Japan
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Satoshi Aya
Satoshi Aya
a)
1
South China Advanced Institute for Soft Matter Science and Technology (AISMST), School of Molecular Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou 510640, China
2
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional and Intelligent Hybrid Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology
, Guangzhou 510640, China
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: satoshiaya@scut.edu.cn
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a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: satoshiaya@scut.edu.cn
J. Chem. Phys. 155, 061101 (2021)
Article history
Received:
June 28 2021
Accepted:
July 23 2021
Citation
Junichi Kougo, Fumito Araoka, Osamu Haba, Koichiro Yonetake, Satoshi Aya; Photo-reconfigurable twisting structure in chiral liquid crystals triggered by photoresponsive surface. J. Chem. Phys. 14 August 2021; 155 (6): 061101. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0061599
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