Acrylic Monomers Research Articles

Preparation and UV‐curing properties of rosin‐based allyl phthalate oligomer

AbstractThe acid–base stability of UV cured materials is an important issue in the field of material applications. Bio‐based rosin modified diallyl phthalate oligomers (RS‐DAP) with higher hydrophobicity were synthesized by the radical reaction of rosin with diallyl phthalate. The structures of RS‐DAP were confirmed by FT‐IR, 1H NMR and electrospray ionization high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI‐HRMS). The UV‐curing properties of acrylate components containing RS‐DAP were investigated by FT‐ATR. And the effects of RS‐DAP dosage on the double bond conversion of neopentyl glycol diacrylate (NPGDA) and the properties of cured film were evaluated. The results show that the introduction of aromatic rings of DAP and the rigid structure of rosin moiety can improve the UV curing rate, gelation ratio, hardness, and chemical resistance of cured film. The composition of RS‐DAP resin with acrylate monomer and RJ313 resin can be 3D printed into specimen with smooth surface, good precision, good thermal stability, hardness of 6 H, and 93% of gel content.

Optimization of hydrophobic nonresponsive sol-ketal acrylate gel film to hydrophilic thermo-responsive gel by graft-polymerization

This work has been done in three steps. First, the preparation of acrylate monomers; they are [dimethyl-1,3-dioxoylan-4-yl-methylacrylate (sol-ketal acrylate) (SKA)], [4-acetylphenyl acrylate (APHA)], and [4-formyl-2-methoxyphenylacrylate (VA)]. All monomers were evaluated using 1H, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR. In the next step, two kinds of polymers were prepared. Two series of copolymers and terpolymers were carried out via the free-radical polymerization; SKA with the photo-cross-linker for poly (SKA-co-DMIAm) photo-cross-linker polymer and VA and APHA with N-isopropylacrylamide for poly (NIPA-co-VA-co-APHA) functional-thermo-responsive terpolymer. All fabricated polymers were investigated by (1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV, GPC, and DSC). The phase separation temperature of polymer solutions has been measured through the turbidity and the change in transmittance to the temperatures using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Eventually, the UV was used to form the gel layer after the deposition of the gold layer. The nonresponsive gel layer was grafted with poly (NIPA-co-VA-co-APHA) to optimize the upper layer to the thermo-responsive functional layer. SPR/OW measured the swelling properties of the gel layers. The active layer will immobilize biological molecules with the primary amine group.Graphical abstractThe schematic diagram shows the steps of gel formation: The cross-linking initiated by UV; SPR/OW for film thickness; grafting for gel optimization.

Preparation of Polymer-Based Nano-Assembled Particles with Fe3O4 in the Core.

Organic-inorganic nanocomposite particles, possessing defined morphologies, represent the next frontier in advanced materials due to their superior collective performance. In this pursuit of efficient preparation of composite nanoparticles, a series of diblock polymers polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) (PS-b-PtBA) were initially synthesized using the Living Anionic Polymerization-Induced Self-Assembly (LAP PISA) technique. Subsequently, the tert-butyl group on the tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) monomer unit in the diblock copolymer, yielded from the LAP PISA process, was subjected to hydrolysis using trifluoroacetic acid (CF3COOH), transforming it into carboxyl groups. This resulted in the formation of polystyrene-block-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-b-PAA) nano-self-assembled particles of various morphologies. The pre-hydrolysis diblock copolymer PS-b-PtBA produced nano-self-assembled particles of irregular shapes, whereas post-hydrolysis regular spherical and worm-like nano-self-assembled particles were generated. Utilizing PS-b-PAA nano-self-assembled particles that containing carboxyl groups as polymer templates, Fe3O4 was integrated into the core region of the nano-self-assembled particles. This was achieved based on the complexation between the carboxyl groups on the PAA segments and the metal precursors, facilitating the successful synthesis of organic-inorganic composite nanoparticles with Fe3O4 as the core and PS as the shell. These magnetic nanoparticles hold potential applications as functional fillers in the plastic and rubber sectors.

PET-RAFT Polymerization of Star Polymers with Folded ortho-Phenylene Cores.

ortho-Phenylenes are one of simplest classes of aromatic foldamers, adopting helical geometries because of aromatic stacking interactions. The folding and misfolding of ortho-phenylenes are slow on the NMR timescale at or below room temperature, allowing detection of folding states using 1 H NMR spectroscopy. Here, an ortho-phenylene hexamer was coupled with a RAFT chain transfer agent (CTA) on each repeat unit. A variety of acrylic monomers were polymerized onto the CTA-functionalized ortho-phenylene using PET-RAFT to yield functionalized star polymers with ortho-phenylene cores. The steric bulk of the acrylate monomer units as well as the chain length of each arm of the star polymer was varied. 1 H NMR spectroscopy showed that the folding of the ortho-phenylenes did not vary, providing a robust helical core for star polymer systems. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Hierarchically Structured Nanotube Arrays as Heterogenous Photocatalysts for Highly Efficient Broadband Photoinduced Controlled Radical Polymerization

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNTAs) and their heterostructure nanocomposites by structural engineering design were utilized as heterogeneous photocatalysts for highly efficient broadband photoinduced controlled radical polymerization (photoCRP), including photoATRP and PET-RAFT. Highly efficient broadband UV-visible light responsive photoCRP was achieved by combining the acceleration effects of electron transfer derived from the distinctive highly ordered nanotube structure of TNTAs and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect combined with the formation of the Schottky barrier via modification of Au nanoparticles. This polymerization system was capable to polymerize acrylate and methacrylate monomers with high conversion, "living" chain-ends, tightly regulated molecular weights, and outstanding temporal control properties. The heterogeneous nature of the photocatalysts enabled simple separation and effective reusability in subsequent polymerizations. These results highlight the modular design of highly efficient catalysts to optimize the controlled radical polymerization process.

Facile synthesis of self-healing poly-acrylic acid/TiO2 hybrid hydrogel for photocatalytic hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol

Self-healing poly-acrylic acid/TiO2 (PT) hybrid hydrogel with different water amount have been simply fabricated by UV light irradiation. The cross-linking (matrix) formation of PT hydrogels was formed due to UV light absorption by TiO2 generating the radical species to polymerize acrylic acid monomer to poly-acrylic acid. XRD analysis successfully revealed the presence of TiO2 in the hydrogel. Meanwhile, the polymerization of acrylic acid to poly-acrylic acid was revealed by FTIR analysis. It is obvious that the physical appearance of as-prepared PT hydrogels with different water amount was different, where a rigid hydrogel was obtained with less water amount and a spongy hydrogel was formed with more water amount. The highest self-healing efficiency achieved ∼85% exhibited by PT-4 hydrogel in which the self-healing ability is due to hydrogen bond occurred between TiO2 and carboxylic functional groups in poly-acrylic acid. For the application, the healed PT-4 hydrogel demonstrated the capability to convert toxic 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol through photocatalytic hydrogenation reaction within 2 h UV light irradiation.

Acrylate monomer polymerization triggered by iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and catechol containing microgels

Phenol and its derivatives are the most used polymerization inhibitors for vinyl-based monomers. Here, we reported a novel catalytic system composed of mussel inspired adhesive moiety, catechol, in combination with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) to generate hydroxyl radical (OH) at pH 7.4. Catechol-containing microgel (DHM) was prepared by copolymerizing dopamine methacrylamide (DMA) and N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide (HEAA), which generated superoxide (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a result of catechol oxidation. In the presence of IONPs, the generated reactive oxygen species were further converted to OH, which initiated free radical polymerization of various water-soluble acrylate-based monomers including neutral (acrylamide, methyl acrylamide, etc.), anionic (2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid sodium salt), cationic ([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride), and zwitterionic (2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide) monomers. Compared with the typical free radical initiating systems, the reported system does not require the addition of extra initiators for polymerization. During the process of polymerization, a bilayer hydrogel was formed in situ and exhibited the ability to bend during the process of swelling. The incorporation of IONPs significantly enhanced magnetic property of the hydrogel and the combination of DHM and IONPs also improved the mechanical properties of these hydrogels.

A facile in-situ polymerization of cross-linked Poly(ethyl acrylate)-Based gel polymer electrolytes for rechargeable aluminum batteries

Rechargeable aluminum batteries are of interest owing to the nonflammability of Al metal anode and the ionic liquid electrolytes together with the low cost and high capacity of Al metal anode. However, the ionic liquid electrolytes are also moisture sensitive and highly corrosive, bringing about irreversible activity loss, undesired gas production and destructive leakage corrosion, which thus hinder the practical application of rechargeable aluminum batteries. Herein, a gel polymer electrolyte is designed via in-situ cross-linking polymerization of ethyl acrylate (EA) monomer and pentaerythritol acrylate (PETEA) crosslinker in high molar ratio of AlCl3/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIC) ionic liquid. This gel polymer electrolyte exhibits an ionic conductivity of 1.46 × 10−3 S cm−1, a wide electrochemical window up to 3.0 V (vs. Al), alleviated moisture sensitivity and appreciable interfacial stability at room temperature. The assembled solid-state Al//graphite batteries with the gel polymer electrolyte deliver stable capacities of ∼90 mAh g−1 for 1000 cycles at the current density of 100 mA g−1 at both ambient temperature and −10 °C. Even with high-loading graphite cathode of 11 mg cm−2, capacities of ∼60 mAh g−1 can still be obtained for 300 cycles. This work provides a promising strategy for developing reliable and flexible rechargeable aluminum batteries.

Regulating copolymer architecture using photoiniferter polymerization to direct composite morphology

Due to mild conditions and straightforward synthetic routes, photoiniferter polymerization has received increasing use as a facile method for preparation of polymers with highly controlled structure. However, low quantum yields inherent to thiocarbonylthio species result in polymerization speeds that are considerably slower than traditional controlled radical polymerization techniques. To improve polymerization speed while maintaining high level control, it is critical to understand relationships between reaction parameters and ultimate polymer structure. In this work, initiating light intensity, reactant concentration, and monomer pendant groups were manipulated in the photoiniferter polymerization of acrylate monomers to explore the effect of these conditions on reaction kinetics and molecular weight control. Polymerization rate of n-butyl acrylate was significantly enhanced by increasing light intensity rivaling speeds of conventional thermally initiated RAFT polymerization while enabling more precise control over molecular weight. Interestingly, photoiniferter rate asymptotically approached saturation at relatively high light intensities. Moreover, degradation of trithiocarbonate species occurred at greater intensities, ultimately resulting in moderate increases in molecular weight. Increased reactant concentration enabled faster rates with bulk polymerization, possibly due to reduced macro radical mobility and termination. Additionally, comparing photoiniferter polymerization of methyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl acrylate showed that greater polarity considerably enhanced polymerization speeds. Finally, the utility of precisely controlling polymer structure was demonstrated by synthesizing and incorporating a series of amphiphilic block copolymers with increasing molecular weight into a photocurable epoxy resin. The well-defined block copolymer structures enabled controllable phase separation and thermomechanical properties in epoxy composites. This work showed that photoiniferter polymerization speeds could be significantly enhanced using elementary reaction conditions, and that these conditions enable facile production of well-defined copolymers allowing tailored composite morphology and properties.

Role of Hydroxy Group in the Electro-Optical Properties of Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystals

In this work, hydroxylated compounds are applied to prepare polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films and the role of the hydroxy group is studied in detail by comparing the effects of the hydroxylated acrylate monomer, the hydroxylated mesogenic component and their corresponding non-hydroxylated components. It is revealed that the hydroxylated acrylate monomer plays a more important role in modifying the morphology of the polymer matrix and thereby the electro-optical performance of the PDLC films. Parameters of the polymer matrix, such as size and density of voids, can be affected by various components, but only the hydroxylated acrylate monomer can alter its type from the typical Swiss-cheese type to the polymer-microsphere type. Essentially, the hydroxylated mesogenic component takes effect through changing the ratio of the liquid crystal phase, while the hydroxylated acrylate monomer can participate in the polymerization and impact the development of the polymer matrix. It is anticipated that this research can help in understanding the role of the hydroxy group in PDLC films.

Quantum Dot Transfer from the Organic Phase to Acrylic Monomers for the Controlled Integration of Single-Photon Sources by Photopolymerization

This paper reports on a new strategy for obtaining homogeneous dispersion of grafted quantum dots (QDs) in a photopolymer matrix and their use for the integration of single-photon sources by two-photon polymerization (TPP) with nanoscale precision. The method is based on phase transfer of QDs from organic solvents to an acrylic matrix. The detailed protocol is described, and the corresponding mechanism is investigated and revealed. The phase transfer is done by ligand exchange through the introduction of mono-2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl succinate (MES) that replaces oleic acid (OA). Infrared (IR) measurements show the replacement of OA on the QD surface by MES after ligand exchange. This allows QDs to move from the hexane phase to the pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) phase. The QDs that are homogeneously dispersed in the photopolymer without any clusterization do not show any significant broadening in their photoluminescence spectra even after more than 3 years. The ability of the hybrid photopolymer to create micro- and nanostructures by two-photon polymerization is demonstrated. The homogeneity of emission from 2D and 3D microstructures is confirmed by confocal photoluminescence microscopy. The fabrication and integration of a single-photon source in a spatially controlled manner by TPP is achieved and confirmed by auto-correlation measurements.

Interplay of photopolymerization and phase separation kinetics and the resulting structure-property relationship of photocurable resins

In this work we develop thermoset materials with heterogeneous microstructures on sub-micron scales by photopolymerization-induced phase separation (photo-PIPS). To this end, we designed a photo-curable resin based on pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETA), an acrylate monomer, combined with 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate (2-EHMA), a methacrylate diluent. Polypropylene glycol (PPG) was used as a phase separation agent. Phase separation was monitored by reactive light transmittance using a custom-built light transmission apparatus and through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The photopolymerization kinetics and the microstructure morphology were characterized using real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. We observe double phase separation: PETA and 2-EHMA separate due to different reactivities, while PPG phase separates as the network develops due to immiscibility. A synergy is observed between the two processes: PPG phase separation leads to an enhanced separation of 2-EHMA. Phase separation leads to reduced transmittance due to scattering, which is primarily associated with the separation of 2-EHMA. Phase separation also causes the reduction of stiffness due to the formation of PPG subdomains. The kinetics is enhanced by increasing the PPG molecular weight and increasing the irradiation intensity.

High Refractive Index Monomers for Improving the Holographic Recording Performance of Two-Stage Photopolymers.

Photopolymers hold great promise for the preparation of transparent volume holographic gratings (VHG), which are core optical elements in many application fields. To improve the holographic recording property of a two-stage photopolymer, four new (meth)acrylate monomers (CTA, CTMA, CTBA, CTBMA) with high refractive indices (1.59-1.63) are designed and synthesized in this study. Using them as one writing monomer, a series of photopolymer samples with different formulations and thicknesses are fabricated for holographic recording. Among them, a formulation containing 9 wt % CTMA shows the best performance. Using it as a recording medium, a VHG with high resolution and diffraction efficiency is constructed. Its refractive index modulation reaches 0.046. Moreover, its total transmittance within 400-800 nm achieves 96.62% after photobleaching. The results indicate that the CTMA-based formulation has great application potential in developing high-performance transparent VHG.

Contact dermatitis to acrylates and secondary nail fungal infection in 22 year old female patient – a case report

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease resulting from repeated contact with allergens or irritants. Prevalence of adverse reactions to acrylates monomers is still rising due to their wide use in medical and cosmetics industry. The nail symptoms, including e.g. onycholysis, hyperkeratosis or nail plate discoloration can be indicative of different diagnoses like psoriasis, mycobacterial infections or contact dermatitis. Diagnosis is not always obvious, as exemplified by the patient’s history. The aim of the study was to describe a case of contact dermatitis to acrylates associated with secondary fungal nail infection. Moreover article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment methods of contact dermatitis induced by acrylates.

Preparation and property study of photocurable polysiloxane polyacrylate materials containing S—S bonds

In this article, three polymerizable polysiloxane monomers with different chain lengths (MA-Sin, n = 3,6,9) have been synthesized, and then MA-Sin was mixed with disulfide monomer (SA) and different acrylate monomers in certain proportion to obtain a series of photopolymerizable systems. The effects of the contents of SA and MA-Sin, and the chain length of MA-Sin on the photopolymerization kinetics, volume shrinkage, water contact angle, thermal resistance, glass transition temperature (T g), tensile properties and degradability of the photocured films were explored in detail. The results show that the content and the chain length of MA-Sin have no significant effect on the final double bond conversion, which reaches about 94%. With the increase of SA content, the volume shrinkage of the photocured film descends and eventually drops to 3.23%. The addition of MA-Sin contributes to improve thermal stability and hydrophobicity. With the lengthening of the chain length of MA-Sin, the water contact angle, tensile strength, elongation at break and thermal resistance of the photocured film were enhanced, whereas T g is decreased. More importantly, the SA endows the photocured films with good degradability.

One-Step Multifunctionalization of Flax Fabrics for Simultaneous Flame-Retardant and Hydro-Oleophobic Properties Using Radiation-Induced Graft Polymerization.

This study concerns the one-step radiografting of flax fabrics with phosphonated and fluorinated polymer chains using (meth)acrylic monomers: dimethyl(methacryloxy)methyl phosphonate (MAPC1), 2-(perfluorobutyl)ethyl methacrylate (M4), 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl acrylate (AC6) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl methacrylate (M8). The multifunctionalization of flax fabrics using a pre-irradiation procedure at 20 and 100 kGy allows simultaneously providing them with flame retardancy and hydro- and oleophobicity properties. The successful grafting of flax fibers is first confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The morphology of the treated fabrics, the regioselectivity of grafting and the distribution of the fluorine and phosphorus elements are assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). The flame retardancy is evaluated using pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC) and cone calorimetry. The hydro- and oleophobicity and water repellency of the treated fabrics is established by contact angle and sliding angle measurements, respectively. The grafting treatment of flax irradiated at 100 KGy, using M8 and MAPC1 monomers (50:50) for 24 h, allows achieving fluorine and phosphorus contents of 8.04 wt% and 0.77 wt%, respectively. The modified fabrics display excellent hydro-oleophobic and flame-retardant properties with water and diiodomethane contact angles of 151° and 131°, respectively, and a large decrease in peak of heat release rate (pHRR) compared to pristine flax (from 230 W/g to 53 W/g). Relevant results are also obtained for M4 and AC6 monomers in combination with MAPC1. For the flame retardancy feature, the presence of fluorinated groups does not disturb the effect of phosphorus.

Molecular-Weight Dependence of Center-of-Mass Chain Diffusion in Polymerized Ionic Liquid Melts

Polymerized ionic liquids (PILs) with flexible polymer chains and weakly interacting ionic liquid (IL) groups have received great attention for their desirable properties in electrochemical applications such as ionic conductivity. Less is known about their dynamic properties such as center-of-mass chain diffusion and how it depends on molecular weight in the presence of IL groups. In this work, a series of acrylic PILs with imidazolium cations and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI) anions (TFSI-f-PILN) were synthesized via reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization with degrees of polymerization N ranging from 40 to 236. A fluorescent acrylic monomer with the 7-nitrobenzofurazan group was copolymerized at trace levels as a probe of chain motion, and the diffusion coefficient (D) of TFSI-f-PILN was determined by fluorescence recovery after photo bleaching at Tg + 45 K. Within the uncertainty of 3–20%, a scaling relationship of D ∼ N–2 was observed which is the same as the scaling of linear neutral polymers. Wide-angle X-ray scattering exhibited no peak at ∼5 nm–1, indicating no long-range imidazolium-TFSI ionic correlations. Our results indicate that the molecular weight dependence of center-of-mass diffusion is not affected by electrostatic interactions of IL groups. No transition from a Rouse regime (D ∼ N–1) to reptation regime (D ∼ N–2) was observed within the studied N range.

Ionic conductive cellulose-based hydrogels for Al-air batteries: Influence of the charged-functional groups on the electrochemical properties

Gel electrolytes for aluminum-air (Al-air) primary batteries were prepared based on hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) and acrylate monomers bearing differently charged functional groups (i.e., -COOCH2CH2N+(CH3)3Cl−, -COO- and -COOCH2CF3). The acrylate monomers were grafted from HEC backbone and crosslinked using methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) to obtain hydrogels with tuned mechanical (15–75 kPa), morphological (pore size 35–125 μm) properties and varied swelling degrees at alkaline electrolyte (900–2500%). Electrochemical measurements were performed on Al-air cells assembled from Al anode, gel electrolytes (in 1 M NaOH) and carbon-based air-cathodes containing silver fine particles (Ag-FPs). Hydrogels with quaternary ammonium salt (HEC-AEtMACl) showed very long discharge time (6.5 h) compared to 1.8 h with the fluorinated hydrogels (HEC-TFEMA) and 1.1 h with carboxylated hydrogels (HEC-AA). Also, HEC-AEtMACl showed the highest current peak (3.9 μA at 1.4 V). Polarization curves proved that the anodic polarization behavior is dominant resulting from the anodic parasitic reaction. The Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) evidenced that HEC-TFEMA has ionic conductivity (34.4 mScm−1) higher than that of HEC-AEtMACl. However, the highest specific capacity was observed to HEC- AEtMACl 0.928 mA h/cm2 compared to 0.26 and 0.15 mA h/cm2 for HEC-TFEMA and HEC-AA respectively.

Employment and performance of modified chitosan for the removal of copper ions and methylene blue in wastewater

AbstractExploring new and efficient adsorbents for the purification of water from heavy metals and organic waste to provide clean drinking water is highly demanded. Herein, the synthesis of polymeric materials based on grafting chitosan (Cs) by various acrylic monomers as acrylic acid (AA), 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl propane sulfonic acid (AMPS), and acrylamide (Am) namely S1, S2, or S3, respectively, using methylene bisacrylamide (NMBAm) as crosslinker was performed. The formed polymeric compound was characterized by utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. It was determined that S2 possessed a higher specific surface area of 109.133 m2/g, which is higher than S1 (71.2553 m2/g) and S3 (62.8847 m2/g). The as‐prepared polymeric compounds were utilized for the removal of copper ions (Cu2+) and methylene blue (MB) from wastewater in the absence and presence of UV light irradiation. The kinetic study and the adsorption isotherms for the removal of Cu2+ and MB as organic pollutants using the as‐prepared polymeric compound were studied.

Preparation and Orthogonal Analysis for Dual-Responsive Electrochromic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Devices.

In this work, we provide a fabrication method for dual-responsive electrochromic (EC) polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) devices. The EC PDLC device was developed by combing the PDLC technique and a colored complex formed via a redox reaction without a specific EC molecule in a simple preparation method. The mesogen played dual roles in the device for scattering in the form of microdroplets and participating in the redox reactions. Orthogonal experiments were performed with the acrylate monomer concentration, the ionic salt concentration, and the cell thickness as factors to investigate the electro-optical performance for the achievement of optimized fabrication conditions. The optimized device presented four switchable states modulated by external electric fields. The light transmittance of the device was changed by an alternative current (AC) electric field while the color change was realized by a direct current (DC) electric field. Variations of mesogen and ionic salt species can modulate the color and hue of devices, which solves the disadvantage of a single color for traditional EC devices. This work lays the foundation for realizing patterned multi-colored patterned displays and anti-counterfeiting via screen printing and inkjet printing techniques.