Nanofibers Shaped by Liquid Crystal

Dec-16-18 Nanofiber carpets inspired by gecko feet and polar bear hair could open the door a range of innovative coatings able to insulate, repel dirt, or emit light.

The nanofiber coatings were created by the team at the University of Michigan by accident as they were investigating a way to place polymers on top of liquid crystals in order to make a sensor able to detect single molecules. However, the links of chain-like molecules slipped through the fluid and connected on the glass slide, where the liquid crystal then guided the nanofibers as they formed a nanoscale carpet. The type of liquid crystal dictated the shape of the nanofibers, such as curved or straight, with a level of control that was not possible before.

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[SCIENCEMAG.ORG]
[NEWS.ENGIN.UMICH.EDU]

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