Stimuli-Responsive Liquid Crystal Printheads for Spatial and Temporal Control of Polymerization

Polymerization reactions triggered by stimuli play a pivotal role in materials science, with applications ranging from lithography to biomedicine to adaptive materials. However, the development of chemically triggered, stimuli-responsive systems that can confer spatial and temporal control on polymerization remains a challenge. Herein, chemical-stimuli-induced polymerization based on a liquid crystal (LC) printhead is presented. The LC responds to a local chemical stimulus at its aqueous interface, resulting in the ejection of initiator into the solution to trigger polymerization. Various LC printhead geometries are designed, allowing programming of: i) bulk solution polymerization, ii) synthesis of a thin surface-confined polymeric coating, iii) polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymers to form various nanostructures (sphere, worm-like, and vesicles), and iv) 3D polymeric structures printed according to local solution conditions. The approach is demonstrated using amphiphiles, multivalent ions, and biomolecules as stimuli.

Automated summary

This study presents a chemically triggered polymerization method based on a liquid crystal printhead, which allows for spatial and temporal control. By designing different geometries of the liquid crystal printhead, various polymerization reactions can be achieved: bulk solution polymerization, synthesis of thin surface-confined polymeric coatings, polymerization-induced self-assembly of block copolymers to form different nanostructures, and 3D printing of polymeric structures based on local solution conditions. The approach utilizes amphiphiles, multivalent ions, and biomolecules as stimuli.