Strain-enhanced sensitivity of polymeric sensors templated from cholesteric liquid crystals

2020-08-01
Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an important issue due to their harmful impact on human health. In this study, we aimed at enhancing the sensitivity of the anisotropic polymeric films templated from cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) in the identification of VOCs at concentrations on the order of 100 ppm. To increase sensitivity, we introduced negative strain to the films in the direction parallel to the helical axis and evaluated its effect on the sensitivity. Specifically, we used LC mixtures of reactive [4-(3-acryloyoxypropyloxy)benzoic acid 2-methyl-1,4-phenylene ester (RM257)], nonreactive E7 mesogen and chiral dopant [4-((1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)phenyl-4-hexyloxybenzoate) (S-811)] to synthesize CLC-templated polymeric films with programmed strain profiles using a curved wedge cell, and measured their response against a range of toluene vapor concentrations. Based on the obtained results, we demonstrated a relationship between the negative strain in the cholesteric pitch and the sensitivity of the sensor based on spacial responses evaluated from the change in coloring of the film. Our results showed that negative strain helps to increase the sensitivity of the sensors up to 15 times compared to their unstrained counterparts. Moreover, 90% of the equilibrium response is achieved in less than one minute of exposure which offers rapid diagnosis of VOCs. Our tests for the reversibility of the sensors showed that the CLC-templated polymeric films can be used multiple times without a significant loss of sensitivity.
SOFT MATTER

Suggestions

Chondrogenic potential of macroporous biodegradable cryogels based on synthetic poly(alpha-amino acids)
Sedlacik, T.; Acar, O. K.; Studenovska, H.; Kotelnikov, I.; Kucka, J.; Konecna, Z.; Zikmund, T.; Kaiser, J.; KÖSE, GAMZE; Rypacek, F. (Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2018-01-14)
In this study, the potential of highly porous hydrogels based on biodegradable synthetic poly(alpha-amino acids) to support proliferation and chondrogenesis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) was investigated. Covalently crosslinked gels with permanent pores were formed under cryogenic conditions by free-radical copolymerization of poly[N-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-glutamine-stat-N-5-(2-methacryloyl-oxy-ethyl)- L-glutamine] (PHEG-MA) with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N-propargyl methacrylamide (Pr...
Raman study of NH4cl at high pressures
Yurtseven, Hasan Hamit (Informa UK Limited, 1990-04-01)
The Raman spectrum of ammonium chloride has been carefully studied in the vicinity of its Λ-transition. Spectra were recorded as a function of temperature under various fixed pressures close to 1.6 kbar, which is the pressure required to make the Λ-transition become second order. The critical exponents derivable from the spectroscopic data seem to be as reliable as those from other types of data, even in the multicritical region.
Microstructural properties and local atomic structures of cobalt oxide nanoparticles synthesised by mechanical ball-milling process
AKSOY, FUNDA; AKGÜL, GÜVENÇ; Kurban, Mustafa (Informa UK Limited, 2016-01-01)
In this study, facile preparation of pure and nano-sized cobalt oxides particles was achieved using low-cost mechanical ball-milling synthesis route. Microstructural and morphological properties of synthesised products were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. XRD results indicated that the fabricated samples composed of cubic pure phase CoO and Co3O4 nanocrystalline particles with an average crystallite size of 37.2 and 31.8nm, respectively. TEM im...
Molecular characterization of acutely and gradually heavy metal acclimated aquatic bacteria by FTIR spectraoscopy
Kepenek, Eda S.; Gözen, Ayşe Gül; Severcan, Feride (Wiley, 2019-05-01)
In the environment, bacteria can be exposed to the concentration gradient of toxic heavy metals (gradual) or sudden high concentration of them (acute). In both situations, bacteria get acclimated to toxic heavy metal concentrations. Acclimation causes metabolic and molecular changes in bacteria. In this study, we aimed to understand whether there are differences between molecular profiles of the bacteria (Brevundimonas, Gordonia and Microbacterium) which are under acute or gradual exposure to cadmium or lea...
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on seed germination, microbial quality, anatomy-morphology and physiological characteristics of garden cress (Lepidium sativum) seedlings
İŞLEK, Cemil; Altuner, Ergin Murat; Ceter, Talip; Alpas, Hami (Informa UK Limited, 2013-06-01)
High hydrostatic pressure is a non-thermal food processing technology that is found to increase the percentage of germination, decrease the germination time and improve the microbial quality of seeds. In this study, pressures of 100-400MPa for 10min at 30 degrees C are used to compare the percentage of germination, the microbial quality of seeds, chlorophyll a and b, and total phenolic compounds concentrations in seedlings, and the anatomy-morphology characteristics of garden cress. Enhanced reductions of t...
Citation Formats
Ö. Batır, E. Bat, and E. Büküşoğlu, “Strain-enhanced sensitivity of polymeric sensors templated from cholesteric liquid crystals,” SOFT MATTER, pp. 6794–6802, 2020, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/36832.