Assemblies of Photonic Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Shells and Ordered Films

Lyotropic cholesteric liquid crystals (ChLCs) confined in micrometer-size spherical shells displaying intrinsic structural and fluorescent colors in the near-infrared (NIR) optical window are promising building blocks for developing applications, such as photonic devices, optical sensors, smart coatings, and anti-counterfeiting technologies. Here, we will study the phase behavior and self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)-templated single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into ChLC shells as well as the macroscopic assembly of these shells into optical films with ordered structures. Specifically, organic color center-tailored SWCNTs (OCC-SWCNTs) with tunable fluorescent quantum defects exhibiting emission in the NIR will be integrated with dispersions of CNCs to assemble ChLC shells with isotropic core in all aqueous environments. If successful, this project will open many possibilities to design new materials for photonics, sensors, and smart coatings applications.