biostudies-literatureRyabchun AVolkswagen FoundationEuropean Research Council4777-4784https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7844818biostudies-literatureUnknown13(3)Nano- and micro-actuating systems are promising for application in microfluidics, haptics, tunable optics, and soft robotics. Surfaces capable to change their topography at the nano- and microscale on demand would allow control over wettability, friction, and surface-driven particle motility. Here, we show that light-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) networks undergo a waving motion of their surface topography upon irradiation with light. These dynamic surfaces are fabricated with a maskless one-step procedure, relying on the liquid crystal alignment in periodic structures upon application of a weak electric field. The geometrical features of the surfaces are controlled by tuning the pitch of the liquid crystal. Pitch control by confinement allows engineering one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) structures that wave upon light exposure. This work demonstrates the potential that self-organizing systems might have for engineering dynamic materials, and harnessing the functionality of molecules to form dynamic surfaces, with nanoscale precision over their waving motion.ACS applied materials & interfacesLight-Fueled Nanoscale Surface Waving in Chiral Liquid Crystal Networks.PMC7844818Consolidator Grant, Morpheus, 77256493424772564Ryabchun ALancia FKatsonis NfalseLight-Fueled Nanoscale Surface Waving in Chiral Liquid Crystal Networks.Nano- and micro-actuating systems are promising for application in microfluidics, haptics, tunable optics, and soft robotics. Surfaces capable to change their topography at the nano- and microscale on demand would allow control over wettability, friction, and surface-driven particle motility. Here, we show that light-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal (LC) networks undergo a waving motion of their surface topography upon irradiation with light. These dynamic surfaces are fabricated with a maskless one-step procedure, relying on the liquid crystal alignment in periodic structures upon application of a weak electric field. The geometrical features of the surfaces are controlled by tuning the pitch of the liquid crystal. Pitch control by confinement allows engineering one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) structures that wave upon light exposure. This work demonstrates the potential that self-organizing systems might have for engineering dynamic materials, and harnessing the functionality of molecules to form dynamic surfaces, with nanoscale precision over their waving motion.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jan2024-11-21T04:20:13.814Z2021-02-21T04:19:14ZS-EPMC78448183342839610.1021/acsami.0c20006