(Invited) Morphological Diversity and Space-Recognition of Polysaccharide Microfibers on Evaporative Interface

Abstract

The geometric structures of soft materials can be controlled on the macro-scale by using interfacial or mechanical instability, e.g.fingering patterns of viscous liquids and buckling patterns of gels during swelling/deswelling. These patterns can be used as smart materials for capturing/releasing and mass-transportation applications. Here we introduce the emergence of uniaxially oriented membranes by drying an aqueous liquid-crystalline solution, composed of megamolecular supra-polysaccharides, sacran, in a limited space. In addition, by controlling the geometry of the evaporation front, multiple nuclei emerge that grow into vertical membraneswith uniaxial orientation. Notably, the membrane, composed of microfiber, is rationally formed along the dynamic three-phase contact line. As a result of the self-organization, the membrane macroscopically partitions the three-dimensional cuboid cell. We envision that such uniaxially oriented membranes, obtained through partitioning phenomena, can be used as soft biomaterials, like anisotropic dialysis membranes with directional controllability in the medical and pharmaceutical field.