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Dynamic control of motion at the molecular level is a core issue in promoting the bottom-up programmable modulation of sophisticated self-organized superstructures. Self-assembled artificial nanoarchitectures through subtle noncovalent interactions are indispensable for diverse applications. Here, the active solar renewable energy is used to harness cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) superstructure devices via delicate control of the dynamic equilibrium between the concentrations of molecular motor molecules with opposite handedness. Thus, the spectral position and handedness of a photonic superstructure can be tuned continuously, bidirectionally, and reversibly within the entire working spectrum (from near-ultraviolet to the thermal infrared region, over 2 μm). With these unique horizons, three advanced photoresponsive chiroptical devices, namely, a mirrorless laser, an optical vortex generator, and an encrypted contactless photorewritable board, are successfully demonstrated. The sunlight-fueled chirality inversion prompts facile switching of functionalities, such as free-space optical communication, stereoscopic display technology, and spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion. Motor-based chiroptic devices with dynamic and versatility controllability, fast response, ecofriendly characteristics, stability, and high efficiency have potential to replace the traditional elements with static functions. The inexhaustible natural power provides a promising means for outdoor-use optics and nanophotonics.

The intelligence, complexity, and diversification of nature is a continuous source of inspiration for humankind. Imitating natural intelligence to devise bionic microrobots with self-regulated features remains an enormous challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a biomimetic soft material that uses light to trigger mechanical motion. This light-sensitive mimosa mimetic film was designed based on liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and photoisomerizable azo compounds. To control the bending direction, a predesigned UV-induced gradient polymerization was used. The energy-controlled polymerized film comprises one high-density and one low-density liquid crystal mesogen face. Similar to mimosas, the fabricated films achieved stimuli-responsive actuation, exhibiting shape deformation upon light illumination. The elastic network undergoes reversible shape changes via photochemical trans-cis isomerization of an azo compound in response to a stimulus. In this study, only a small amount of photoisomerizable 1-Hydroxy-n-(4-nitro-azobenzene-4′-oxy)hexane (AZO) was used; however, the domino effect caused a significant reversible actuation. The mesogen density of the top and bottom faces was found to be an important factor for the bending control. This study explores a new way to fabricate films that can bend in controlled directions during light irradiation. This phototunable film is expected to be used for applications in microrobotics and micromachinery.

This study investigates and develops for the first time an electrically tunable liquid-crystal–polymer composite laser with a symmetric sandwich structure. This structure includes two identical pol...

Chameleons, which are among the poikilotherms, can rapidly change color for camouflage, communication and thermoregulation. These cold-blooded animals physiologically shift color through the active tuning of lattices of guanine nanocrystals within a superficial thick layer of dermal iridophores. This active tuning can be described as alternating different refractive indices of nano-reflectors, thereby generating interference of light waves. The self-regulation of the skin behind its dynamic color changing ability makes it the ultimate “biomimetic surface” and a continued source of inspiration. We presented a deformation-color multi-responsive actuator whose response is controlled by delicate light to mimic these adaptive functions. This soft smart material is developed by well-aligned cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCE). It performs a 185 nm wavelength shift of selective reflection and is switched by reacting to exposure time. Effective optical management is critical for the operation of many modern technologies. These results demonstrate distinctive potential opportunities for LC elastomers to control light, thereby enabling new applications of modern technologies to textiles, optics, and architecture.

Nano- and microscale morphology endows surfaces that play conspicuous roles in natural or artificial objects with unique functions. Surfaces with dynamic regulating features capable of switching the structures, patterns, and even dimensions of their surface profiles can control friction and wettability, thus having potential applications in antibacterial, haptics, and fluid dynamics. Here, a freestanding film with light-switchable surface based on cholesteric liquid crystal networks is presented to translate 2D flat plane into a 3D nanometer-scale topography. The wettability of the interface can be controlled by hiding or revealing the geometrical features of the surfaces with light. This reversible dynamic actuation is obtained through the order parameter change of the periodic cholesteric organization under a photoalignment procedure and lithography-free mode. Complex tailored structures can be used to encrypt tactile information and improve wettability by pre-designing the orientation distribution of liquid crystal director. This rapid switching nano-precision smart surface provides a novel platform for artificial skin, optics, and functional coatings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Self-organized periodic micro/nanostructures caused by stimulus-responsive structural deformation often occur in anisotropic self-assembled supramolecular systems (e.g., liquid crystal systems). However, the long-range orderliness of these structures is often beyond control. In this article, we first demonstrate that a large-area disordered two-dimensional (2D) microgrid chiral structure appears in the cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) reactive mixture because of the photopolymerization-induced Helfrich deformation effect under exposure to the single UV-laser beam. The result is attributed to the impact of an internal longitudinal strain, which is caused by the pitch contraction of the CLC-monomer region through the continuing compression of the thickening CLC polymer layer adhered on the illuminated substrate of the sample during photopolymerization. The experimental results further show that a one-dimensional (1D) UV-laser interference field can be used to effectively control the postformed 2D microgrid structure to arrange in an orderly manner throughout the large exposed area (an order of centimeter). The optimum ability for controlling the orderliness of the microgrid structure can be achieved if the spacing width of the interference field approximates the periodicity of the postformed 2D microgrids. Several factors, such as the pitch of the CLC mixture and the included angle and intensity of the two interfering laser beams, which influence the orderliness and properties of the 2D microgrid structure, are explored in this study. The result of this research opens a new page to improve the applicability of the Helfrich deformation phenomenon and further provides a reference platform for manipulating, modifying, and even tailoring periodic micro/nanostructures in self-organized supramolecular soft-matter systems for application in advanced optics/photonics.

Orientational structure transitions due to a photoinduced surface anchoring modulation were achieved and investigated in the case of NLC microdroplets placed between glycerol and solid surface. The boundary conditions at NLC-glycerol varied under the light action on the dendromer dopant containing azobenzene terminal fragments. At the same time, the NLC had a strong planar anchoring with the polyimide treated substrate. Numerical simulation of the observed orientational structures in NLC microdroplets were carried out.

Recently, GaTe and C2N monolayers have been successfully synthesized and show fascinating electronic and optical properties. Such hybrid of GaTe with C2N may induce new novel physical properties. In this work, we perform ab initio simulations on the structural, electronic, and optical properties of the GaTe/C2N van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure. Our calculations show that the GaTe/C2N vdW heterostructure is an indirect-gap semiconductor with type-II band alignment, facilitating an effective separation of photogenerated carriers. Intriguingly, it also presents enhanced visible-UV light absorption compared to its components and can be tailored to be a good photocatalyst for water splitting at certain pH by applying vertical strains. Further, we explore specifically the adsorption and decomposition of water molecules on the surface of C2N layer in the heterostructure and the subsequent formation of hydrogen, which reveals the mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen production on the 2D GaTe/C2N heterostructure. Moreover, it is found that in-plane biaxial strains can induce indirect-direct-indirect, semiconductor-metal, and type II to type I or type III transitions. These interesting results make the GaTe/C2N vdW heterostructure a promising candidate for applications in next generation of multifunctional optoelectronic devices.

Supramolecular β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used as a soft template for the fabrication of long silver nanowires. A novel design using self-assembled β-CD for the reduction of silver ions was studied. The concentrations of iron chloride, silver nitrate, and the template were controlling factors for the growth of the silver nanowires. Iron chloride was used to accelerate and facilitate the formation of the silver nanowires and inhibit oxidative etching. However, an excessive concentration of Fe+3 resulted in etching of the silver nanostructures. Furthermore, the silver concentration was another controlling factor. The length of the silver nanowires increased as the concentration of silver cations increased. Nevertheless, an excess concentration of silver cations formed various silver crystalline structures. In this study, the optimal ratio between iron chloride and silver nitrate was determined to be 1:13.3. A maximum length of 20 µm was achieved using a concentration of 0.23 M for the soft template. Moreover, the junction of two growing silver nanowires was observed, forming a long fused nanowire, and some significant boundaries were observed. The observed results were further confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analyses were used to indicate the presence of silver and the formation of crystalline materials.

Two sequential transformations of the orientational structure in nematic liquid crystal droplets containing a dendrimer additive (nanosized macromolecules with light-absorbing azobenzene terminal moieties) under light irradiation in the UV–blue spectral range were investigated. The origin of these transitions is in the change of the boundary conditions due to photoisomerization of the dendrimer adsorbed onto the liquid crystal–glycerol interface. It was shown that the photoisomerization processes of dendrimer molecules in a liquid crystal are accompanied by a spatial rearrangement of their azobenzene moieties, which is the key point in the explanation of the observed effects.

A structured broad-band photonic film is fabricated by a novel method using multiple gradient UV-induced polymerization in the presence of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). Here, imprinting and broadening of the reflection band of chiral nematic mesophase cells are achieved via controlled UV polymerization. The intensity gradient of UV light is modified by the distance between UV lamp and sample cell, which affects the polymerization rate and leads to the formation of imprinted helical constructions with different pitches. In this study, a comparison of new design process with traditional UV polymerization process is carried out. After seven cycles of gradient UV polymerization, the imprinted photonic construction exhibited a broadened reflection band and Bragg reflection, even for isotropic materials. Because of this, the reflection bandwidth showed a 70% improvement. Additionally, two stacked imprinted cells with different pitches can reflect incident light with a bandwidth over the visible wavelength range of 480–680 nm. A broad-band photonic polymer film can be imprinted using multiple gradient UV photopolymerization in the presence of CLCs. Forming a UV intensity gradient and controlling the rate of photopolymerization are key factors in broadening the reflection band. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017

Liquid crystals (LCs) are distinctive materials that are applicable to a wide range of disciplines, such as continuum mechanics, optics of anisotropic media, statistical physics, and crystallography. The diverse structures and eye-catching topological defects of LCs in confined geometries are affected by nematic elasticity, chirality, and surface anchoring. Herein, we report the formation and detailed configuration of cholesteric LC (CLC) microdroplets with different pitches pierced by electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) microfibers. Two kinds of surface anchoring, namely, homeotropic anchoring at the air–CLC droplet interface and planar anchoring at the fiber–CLC droplet interface, coexist in this system. By controlling temperature and light irradiation, the system exhibits thermal- and photo-dependent LC morphological and topological evolutions. The observed structures are complemented by numerical simulations of possible director fields decorated by defects. The externally controllable CLC necklaces constitute extraordinary systems for exploring the morphology and topological defects and open a route for applications in topological remote control, nanoscience, biomedical research, and the development of devices based on topologically structured soft media.

A liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) film is successfully deposited with a terahertz metamaterial using thermal evaporation via a programmed electronic shutter and high-efficiency cooling system. The transmittance of the metamaterial at its resonance frequency is monotonically increased from 0.0036 to 1.0 as a pump beam bends the LCE film, so the metamaterial has a large switching contrast of 277 at the frequency. The monotonic increase in the resonance transmittance arises from the constant resonance frequency of the metamaterial at the transmittance modulation and depicts that the metamaterial-deposited LCE film can continuously tune the transmitted intensity of a terahertz beam. The metamaterial-deposited LCE film has potential in developing continuously tunable intensity modulators with large switching contrasts for the application of terahertz imaging and terahertz communication. Therefore, the thermal evaporation expands the application of metamaterials and improves their optical properties.

An infrared (IR) reflector that has ultra-wide reflection band and high reflectance was successfully fabricated based on an enantiomorphic chiral polymer composite template-made method involving UV-curing, washing-out, stacking, and refilling. In this study, an IR reflector reflecting >80% of incoming solar IR light from 800 nm to 1500 nm and retaining acceptable transmittance in the visible region is demonstrated. This undertaking is achieved by stacking two enantiomorphic double-polymerized chiral polymer templates with large longitudinal pitch gradients as a composite template cell designed for the near-IR region. Heat insulation test reveals that the temperature can be effectively lowered by 2 °C–3 °C by using the IR reflector, thereby indicating that a considerable amount of incident heat could be isolated and a significant amount of energy could be saved by cooling. The sample has potential in green and military applications, such as energy-saving green windows and anti-IR devices.

The composition and microstructure of nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials with different components were analyzed and calculated in detail by using the method of micro-structural analysis and thermal magnetic analysis. The results show that the micro-structural parameters of the nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials are closely related to their chemical composition. The internal mechanism of the chemical composition affecting on the micro-structural parameters were explained by the crystallization process of amorphous materials and the phase transition kinetics, respectively.

The new Nd-Fe-B magnets were prepared by powder metallurgical processing. The thermal stability and magnetic properties were found to be remarkably improved after annealing at 680 °C for 2 h. The Br, and Hc, BH of annealed magnets were improved by-0.04 T, 132 KA·m-1, 22 KJ·m-3, from 1.25 T, 882 KA·m-1, 286 KJ·m-3 of the as-sintered magnets, respectively. The losses and average temperature coefficients of magnetic properties were very low at 373 K. Compare with the as-sintered magnets, the magnetic property losses of the annealed magnets decreased by half at different temperature. Scanning electron microscopy on magnets did reveal a noticeable difference in phase morphology, and found that the improvements of thermal stability and magnetic properties can be attributed to the change of magnetic domain wall motion, composition, stray demagnetizing fields, and microstructure. The new Nd-Fe-B preferment magnets are promising to use in the all-electric bus hub direct drive motor.

A new scheme of adjustable full polarization imaging measurement system was presented in this paper in order to study the polarization properties of light. It realized the measurement and flexible switching of the linear, circular and elliptical polarization modes in the active and passive mode through the combination of a linear polarizer, 1/4 wave plate and angle adjusting device. A prototype of the adjustable full polarization imaging measurement system was developed and tested in the paper. The adjustable full polarization imaging system was mainly composed of a polarization transmitting unit, a polarization receiving unit and an imaging control unit. In the active mode, the polarization emission unit worked and emitted the active polarized light while in passive mode, the emission unit did not work, and the system got image via natural light. The entire system was integrated into an image sensor with compact structure and good consistency, which can be widely used in the laboratory and field polarization imaging measurement and quantitative analysis.

Zn-coated HDPE films with different amount of zinc deposition were prepared via vacuum evaporation technology. AFM images showed that the size of Zn particles was decreasing evidently with the increase of the amount of Zn deposition on HDPE substrate. The Zn-coated HDPE films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity, especially for S. aureus. Compared with the HDPE film, the improvement of the barrier properties of the Zn-coated HDPE films was observed. Moreover, the barrier properties of the Zn-coated HDPE films were increasing with the elevation of the Zn content on HDPE films. The as-prepared Zn-coated HDPE films have a promising foreground applied in food packaging.

By means of mechanical properties test and structure observation， the relationship among electric field strength, polar molecule type, content on the Ni/TiO2group electrorheological fluid properties have been analyzed. It is found that with increasing electric field strength，the properties of electrorheological fluid increased for same composition ER fluid. Different type polar molecules have distinct effect. For same particle，with increasing polar molecule content，the property is increased, but there is a critical value . Polar molecule make particles chain of electrorheological fluid become strong，coarse and interweaved each other.

Adhesive bonding technology has become one effective joining technology instead of the traditional spot-welding especially for AHSS materials. But Adhesive bond quality inspection method is limited to the mechanical performance tests such as tensile-shear test recently and it’s time-consuming and unpractical. So a reliable and practical method for on-line identifying different bond discrepancies and assessing the bond quality is necessary in industry. Based on the thermal expansion electrode displacement mechanism during weld-bonding process, the dynamic electrode displacement method could be applied for differentiating adhesive bond discrepancies effectively through acquiring and analyzing the dynamic electrode displacement signal curves during weld-bonding process from laser displacement sensors installed onto the welding gun. Lots of experiments and analysis showed that this method is basically feasible, that is, it could identify different adhesive bond discrepancies qualitatively and accurately. So it has a good potential especially applied in production line.

By means of structure analysis, mechanical properties test and microstructure observation，structure of Ni and Ni/TiO2group particles have been obtained, the relationship among particSubscript textSubscript textle diameter，electric field strength and shear ratio of the properties of Ni/TiO2group core-shell particles ER fluid have been researched. It has been found that with increasing particle diameter，the shear stress of ER fluid decreased, and with increasing shear ratio，the shear stress of ER fluid increased for same diameter particle and composition ER fluid. At same time, the smaller of particle diameter, the higher of ER properties such as shear stress, but there is a critical value for shear ratio, when shear ratio is larger than critical value, the properties of ER is nearly a value for same composition ER fluid. Particles chain of ER fluid under certain electric field is different with diversity Ni group Particles.

Compared with the conventional low carbon steels, the expulsion is more prone to occur in resistance spot welding (RSW) of dual phase (DP) steels. Especially when the initial gap exists between the steel sheets, the weld expulsion would reduce the weld quality of the joint. It is important to decrease or inhibit the occurrence of the weld expulsion in auto-body assembly line in order to guarantee the joint quality. In this study, the experiments of RSW with different initial gaps have been done to study the effect of the electrode force on the expulsion using different thicknesses of dual phase steels. The results show that the increment of the electrode fore would enable to decrease the occurrence of expulsion with the increase of the sheet thickness and gap spacing in resistance spot welding of DP steel sheets.

It has been proved that the initial gap has obvious influence on nugget formation, but little works focused on the effect of initial gap on the tensile strength of resistance spot welded (RSW) joints. In this paper, a 3D FE model was built for solving this question. The results show that, even though there are some fluctuations of weld diameter and tensile strength of RSW joints with initial gap, the tensile strength and weld diameter of welded joints with initial gap are still larger than that of welded joints without gap, which confirm that the influence of initial gap on tensile shear strength is little significant. The computation results agree well with experiment.

In order to reduce vehicle weight and improve crash performance, dual-phase (DP) steels are increasingly used for lightweight auto-body. the high cooling rates in Resistance spot welding (RSW) process will make the nugget very brittle and result in interfacial fracture modes. In this study, a servo resistance welding system is firstly introduced to control process parameters during the welding process. The influences of different process parameters (weld current, weld time and electrode force) on the weld strength, nugget diameter, facture modes and weld indentation are analyzed. Finally, an on-line weld failure mode inspection method is proposed based on servo gun’s feedback characteristics.

Dual-phase steel is a mixture of ferrite matrix and martensitic islands distributed at grain boundaries with the possible addition of bainite. Its formability, capacity to absorb crash energy, and ability to resist fatigue make it a desirable material for use in the automotive industry to enhance automobile’s strength and reduce its weight. However, the resistance spot weldability of dual-phase steel is sometimes limited by a propensity for weld metal failure due to the welding process. To improve its weldability, a servo gun spot welding system is introduced to control electrode force during the welding process. The paper take 1.5mm DP600 steels as an example, experimental data shows that by optimizing electrode force during welding process, the width of weld lobe can be enlarged from 0.9kA to 2.1kA and the weldability of dual phase steel is improved greatly.