INSP - UPMC - 4 place Jussieu - 75005 Paris - Barre 22-12, 4e étage, salle 426
Ivan I. Smalyukh - Department of Physics, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering and Materials Science Engineering Program, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and University of Colorado, Boulder, United States
Abstract
A promising approach of designing mesostructured materials with novel physical behavior is based on combining unique optical and electronic properties of solid nanoparticles with long- range orientational ordering and facile electric switching. This lecture will describe how we practically realize molecular-colloidal composites formed via multi-scale self-assembly in dispersions of anisotropic nanoparticles into liquid crystal structures. Ranging from colloidal dispersions to aerogels, these composites are pre-engineered to exhibit novel plasmonic, electro- chromic, thermally insulating, photonic and other unusual physical properties controlled by low- voltage fields and light itself. The lecture will conclude with a discussion of a new breed of potential applications of these liquid crystal composites in smart windows and electro-optics.