Liquid Crystalline Polymers

Abstract

The article deals with the liquid crystalline (LC) polymers which belong to interdisciplinary science attracting the attention of wide range of researchers in the fields of polymer and material science, solid and soft matter physics, as well as nanotechnology and the electronics industry. In the short historical overview the main features of low-molecular-mass liquid crystals embracing their constitution molecular and supramolecular structures of these unique compounds are considered. A concept of the synthesis of main-chain and side-chain (comb-shaped) LC polymers containing the mesogenic groups and flexible spacers is discussed. The main attention focus on the design, synthesis, and study of photo-, electro- and thermo-optical properties of photochromic and chiral comb-shaped LC polymers, LC composites, LC block-copolymers forming nematic, smectic, and cholesteric mesophases. The last part of the review briefly covers some ionogenic and ionophoric LC polymers, LC dendrimers and LC elastomers, as well as polymer-dispersed liquid crystals, LC networks and fluorescent LC composites based on polyethylene. Particular emphasis are placed on the creation of new promising materials for colour data recording, holographic gratings, ‘command’ coatings, photo-responsive actuators, and sensors.