| 초록 |
Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) are nematic liquid crystals whose director is helically twisted. CLCs possess photonic bandgap along the helical axis, rendering CLCs useful for various photonic devices. However, it is still challenging to tailor CLCs into capsule format that provides the ease of processing and structural stability. Here, we report microfluidic approach to encapsulate CLCs with polymeric membrane. With double-emulsion drops, CLCs are enclosed by hydrogel shell, providing high stability. The ultra-thin water layer can be inserted between CLC core and polymeric shell by employing triple-emulsion drops. The layer helps the liquid crystals form planar alignment. In addition, CLCs with different bandgap and handedness can be used as the core and second shell of the triple emulsions, which results in photonic capsules with dual bandgaps. This class of photonic ink capsules is promising as standalone sensors, lasing resonators, and building blocks for photonic devices. |
