Abstract
A lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (LCLC) is an orientationally ordered system made by self-assembled aggregates of charged organic molecules in water, bound by weak non-covalent attractive forces and stabilized by electrostatic repulsions. We determine how the ionic content of the LCLC, namely the presence of mono- and divalent salts and pH enhancing agent, alter the viscoelastic properties of the LCLC. Aqueous solutions of the dye Sunset Yellow with a uniaxial nematic order are used as an example. By applying a magnetic field to impose orientational deformations, we measure the splay \(K_1\), twist \(K_2\) and bend \(K_3\) elastic constants and rotation viscosity \(\gamma_1\) as a function of concentration of additives. The data indicate that the viscoelastic parameters are influenced by ionic content in dramatic and versatile ways. For example, the monovalent salt NaCl decreases \(K_3\) and \(K_2\) and increases \(\gamma_1\), while an elevated pH decreases all the parameters. We attribute these features to the ion-induced changes in length and flexibility of building units of LCLC, the chromonic aggregates, a property not found in conventional thermotropic and lyotropic liquid crystals formed by covalently bound units of fixed length.
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Zhou, S. (2017). Ionic-Content Dependence of Viscoelasticity of the Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystal Sunset Yellow. In: Lyotropic Chromonic Liquid Crystals. Springer Theses. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52806-9_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52806-9_3
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