Photoactive Chiral Liquid Crystal-inspired Materials

Objective

As Europe advances its green and digital transitions, the demand for innovative materials grows, particularly in templating applications, secure authentication, and bioimaging. Chiral nanostructures, inspired by natural helical formations, are at the forefront of these challenges. The PaChi-LCiMat project seeks to push the boundaries of material science by developing new photoactive chiral liquid crystal-inspired materials for these cutting-edge fields. Dr. Sezgin will lead this research under the supervision of Prof. Blanca Ros at the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragn (INMA), University of Zaragoza-CSIC. Leveraging his background in liquid crystal systems, Dr. Sezgin will employ advanced organic synthesis and supramolecular chemistry to create novel photoactive bent-core building blocks that self-assemble into helical nanofilament-based soft materials, such as liquid crystals and gels. These soft materials will undergo comprehensive structural and optical characterization, essential for their use in cutting-edge technological applications. The project includes secondments to the University of Warsaw under Prof. Ewa Grecka, using advanced X-ray diffraction (SAXS/WAXS) to explore structural intricacies, and to the University of Granada with Prof. Araceli G. Campaa, focusing on CPL spectroscopy a critical property for technological applications to enhance the optical understanding of the materials. This research aligns with Europe's strategic priorities to enhance technological competitiveness and security, with expected breakthroughs in next-generation authentication systems, templating applications, and bioimaging technologies. By integrating expertise from multiple disciplines and institutions, PaChi-LCiMat is set to deliver groundbreaking solutions in these fields, contributing to European research excellence and positioning Dr. Sezgin as a leader in advanced materials innovation.