Liquid Crystals – Beyond Color Generation

Liquid crystals, common in electronic displays, have been found to exhibit remarkable properties beyond color generation. Research by the Osuji lab at the University of Pennsylvania revealed that under specific conditions, these molecules form complex networked structures of filaments and flattened discs, capable of transporting materials similar to biological systems. Phase separating liquids typically form spherical droplets, driven by surface minimization. This work demonstrates that the alignment of liquid crystals within these droplets can deform fluid interfaces, driving the formation of more complex architectures and emergent active dynamics. This discovery, published in PNAS, may lead to self-assembling materials and new cellular activity models.