Liquid Crystals, polymers and planes
Dr. Martinez Felipe Alfonso
Tuesday, December, 4th
h. 16:00-17:00
Room TA08 (viale Terracini 28, Bologna)
Abstract: Liquid crystals are fascinating materials that exhibit intermediate phase behaviour between isotropic liquids and ordered crystals. Their tendency to form anisotropic nanostructures, whilst retaining their capability to flow, make them very attractive as smart materials for externally controlled applications1. In this seminar, I will share some examples of our recent work in Aberdeen performed in liquid crystals and polymers, from a very personal point of view. These include the use of liquid crystal polymers as ionic conductors2, the formation of “bent” supramolecular liquid crystals by using hydrogen bonding3, the preparation of glycosides forming liquid crystal phases obtained from natural resources4, and polymeric formulations applied for controlled drug delivery5. We will highlight the role of light to control their phase behaviour and properties, and their characterisation using spectroscopic techniques, with special attention to infrared spectroscopy. I will take advantage to show the wonders of Aberdeen, and the research interests of some of our colleagues.
References 1. A. Martinez-Felipe, Liquid Crystals 2011, 38, 1607-1626; 2. L. Vanti et al. European Polymer Journal 2018, 109, 124-133 ; 3. SM. Jansze et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edidtion 2015, 54, 643-646; 4. Fadhilah et al. Submitted to Journal of Molecular Liquids; 5. A. Concellon et al. Macromolecules, 2016, 49,. 7825-7836; 6. R. Walker, et al., Chemmical Communications, 2018, 54, 3383-3386