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The article discusess a study conducted for achieving precise organization of nanoparticles (NPs) in three-dimensional space. It examines morphogenesis of nanoparticle assemblies and a cholesteric liquid crystalline host formed by cellulose nanocrystals for experiencing marked changes in shape and structure as a function of concentration. It mentions increase in NP loading triggers reversible droplet transformation to gain a core-shell morphology with an isotropic core.

An important goal of the modern soft matter science is to discover new self-assembly modalities to precisely control the placement of small particles in space. Spatial inhomogeneity of liquid crystals offers the capability to organize colloids in certain regions such as the cores of the topological defects. Here we report two self-assembly modes of nanoparticles in linear defects-disclinations in a lyotropic colloidal cholesteric liquid crystal: a continuous helicoidal thread and a periodic array of discrete beads. The beads form one-dimensional arrays with a periodicity that matches half a pitch of the cholesteric phase. The periodic assembly is governed by the anisotropic surface tension and elasticity at the interface of beads with the liquid crystal. This mode of self-assembly of nanoparticles in disclinations expands our ability to use topological defects in liquid crystals as templates for the organization of nanocolloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]