Dual Effect of L-Cysteine on the Reorientation and Relaxation of Fe3O4-Decorated Graphene Oxide Liquid Crystals

TL;DR

This study explores how L-Cysteine affects the reorientation and relaxation dynamics of Fe3O4-decorated graphene oxide liquid crystals under magnetic fields, revealing dual effects that enable tunable patterning for advanced material applications.

Contribution

It demonstrates the dual effect of L-Cysteine on magnetic alignment and relaxation times in Fe3O4-decorated GOLC, and introduces micropatterning techniques using magnetic fields.

Findings

L-Cysteine decreases reorientation time of GOLC.

L-Cysteine increases relaxation time of GOLC.

Magnetic field enables micropattern creation in GOLC drops.

Abstract

Here, we study the dynamics of Fe3O4-decorated L-Cysteine-functionalized GOLC director under an external magnetic field and analyze L-Cysteine's influence on the reorientation and relaxation time of the director. In particular, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by solution-combustion method and added for altering orientational properties of GO which we synthesized electrochemically and functionalized by L-Cysteine. In addition, a comprehensive comparison of the director behaviour of GOLC and Fe3O4-decorated L-Cysteine-GOLC was undertaken to verify the tunability of the aforementioned systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate dual-effect of L-Cysteine on the magnetic field-induced alignment and relaxation time of GOLC systems, namely decrease in reorientation time and at the same time increase in relaxation time. Besides, micropattern creation and controlling in the drying drops of GOLC (net- and knit-like, flower-like, radial- and parallel-strip etc.) using a magnetic field were shown. The results of our studies could facilitate the fabrication of ordered and patterned tunable GOLC assemblies for a range of advanced applications. GOLC was undertaken to verify the tunability of the aforementioned systems. Furthermore, we demonstrate dual-effect of L-Cysteine on the magnetic field-induced alignment and relaxation time of GOLC systems, namely decrease in reorientation time and at the same time increase in relaxation time. Besides, micropattern creation and controlling in the drying drops of GOLC (net- and knit-like, flower-like, radial- and parallel-strip etc.) using a magnetic field were shown. The results of our studies could facilitate the fabrication of ordered and patterned tunable GOLC assemblies for a range of advanced applications.