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Liquid crystals (LCs) are a class of soft condensed matter with molecular ordering like solids in one, two or three dimensions depending on the liquid crystal phase but show fluidity like liquids. LCs show large variations in properties when subjected to electric and magnetic fields, polarized light, temperature, pH, or other stimuli. The properties of LCs can be altered and enhanced by adding molecule such as dyes, mesogenic molecules or nanomaterials called as the host-guest systems. The work presented in this thesis describes the study on new types of LC host-guest systems developed for new applications in soft matter and as well as for nano- and bio- material applications. In this work, different types of nanoparticles (NPs) (chiral and achiral) have been synthesized, characterized and studied as dopants/guests in nematic-LCs to understand the interactions of LCs with NPs both in the bulk (well-dispersed) and with the NPs confined at the LC-substrate interface (segregated). The effect of well-dispersed chiral mesogenic cholesterol capped chiral gold NPs in a nematic LC is studied to understand and visualize nanoparticle chirality. Secondly, ink-jet printing of gold NPs and emissive carbon dots is used as a versatile and flexible technique for obtaining patterned alignment of LCs. Another aspect presented in this thesis is development of modular synthesis for smectic liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) as hosts for spatial cell culture and tissue regeneration. Series of new elastomers (3 arm, 4 arm and 6 arm smectic LCEs) with tunable size of building blocks and position of LC pendant group (alpha and gamma) has been developed, modified with LC pendant groups and studied for their mechanical behavior and are a viable candidate for cell cultures with different cell lines. The research presented in this thesis highlights the importance of material designing, diversity of LCs and its implementation in new applications in the fields of nano- and bio- materials. |
