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All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2021

Multicolor Photonic Pigments for Rotation-Asymmetric Mechanochromic Devices

Photonic crystals are extensively explored to replace inorganic pigments and organic dyes as coloring elements in printing, painting, sensing, and anti-counterfeiting due to their brilliant structural colors, chemical stability, and environmental friendliness. However, most existing photonic-crystal-based pigments can only display monochromatic colors once made, and generating multicolors has to start with designing different building blocks. In this work, a novel photonic pigment featuring highly tunable structural colors in the entire visible spectrum, made by the magnetic assembly of monodisperse nanorods into body-centered-tetragonal photonic crystals, is reported. Their prominent magnetic and crystal anisotropy makes it efficient to generate multicolors using one photonic pigment by magnetically controlling the crystal orientation. Further, the combination of angle-dependent diffraction and magnetic orientation control enables the design of rotation-asymmetric photonic films that display distinct patterns and encrypted information in response to rotation. The efficient multicolor generation through precise orientational control makes this novel photonic pigment promising in developing high-performance structural-colored materials and optical devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Energy Transfer in Aqueous Light Harvesting Antennae Based on Brush-like Inter-Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Complexes

Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have the potential to serve as building blocks of artificial light-harvesting systems. This is primarily due to their delocalized electronic states and potential for hierarchical self-assembly. We showed previously that inter-CPE complexes composed of oppositely charged exciton-donor and exciton-acceptor CPEs displayed efficient electronic energy transfer. However, near ionic charge equivalence, complexed CPE chains become net-neutral and thus experience a precipitous drop in aqueous solubility. To increase the stability and to rationally manipulate the phase behavior of inter-CPE complexes, we synthesized a series of highly water-soluble exciton-donor CPEs composed of alternating ionic and polar nonionic fluorene monomers. The nonionic monomer contained oligo(ethyleneglycol) sidechains of variable length. We then formed exciton donor-acceptor complexes and investigated their relative energy transfer efficiencies in the presence of a fixed exciton-acceptor CPE. We find that, even when the polar nonionic sidechains become quite long (nine ethyleneglycol units), the energy transfer efficiency is hardly affected so long as the inter-CPE network retains a net polyelectrolyte charge. However, near the onset of spontaneous phase separation, we observe a clear influence of the length of the oligo(ethyleneglycol) sidechains on the photophysics of the complex. Our results have implications for the use of polyelectrolyte phase separation to produce aqueous light-harvesting soft materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Decoupling copolymer, lipid and carbon nanotube interactions in hybrid, biomimetic vesicles

Bilayer vesicles that mimic a real biological cell can be tailored to carry out a specific function by manipulating the molecular composition of the amphiphiles. These bio-inspired and bio-mimetic structures are increasingly being employed for a number of applications from drug delivery to water purification and beyond. Complex hybrid bilayers are the key building blocks for fully synthetic vesicles that can mimic biological cell membranes, which often contain a wide variety of molecular species. While the assembly and morpholgy of pure phospholid bilayer vesicles is well understood, the functionality and structure dramaticlly changes when copolymer and/or carbon nanotube porins (CNTP) are added. The aim of this study is to understand how the collective molecular interactions within hybrid vesicles affect their nanoscale structure and properties. In situ small and wide angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) and molecular dynamics simulations (MD) are used to investigate the morphological effect of molecular interactions between polybutadiene polyethylene oxide, lipids and carbon nanotubes (CNT) within the hybrid vesicle bilayer. Within the lipid/copolymer system, the hybrid bilayer morphology transitions from phase separated lipid and compressed copolymer at low copolymer loadings to a mixed bilayer where opposing lipids are mostly separated from the inner region. This transition begins between 60 wt% and 70 wt%, with full homogenization observed by 80 wt% copolymer. The incorporation of CNT into the hybrid vesicles increases the bilayer thickness and enhances the bilayer symmetry. Analysis of the WAXS and MD indicate that the CNT–dioleoyl interactions are much stronger than the CNT–polybutadiene.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

Is Terzan 5 the remnant of a building block of the Galactic bulge? Evidence from APOGEE

ABSTRACT It has been proposed that the globular cluster-like system Terzan 5 is the surviving remnant of a primordial building block of the Milky Way bulge, mainly due to the age/metallicity spread and the distribution of its stars in the α–Fe plane. We employ Sloan Digital Sky Survey data from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment to test this hypothesis. Adopting a random sampling technique, we contrast the abundances of 10 elements in Terzan 5 stars with those of their bulge field counterparts with comparable atmospheric parameters, finding that they differ at statistically significant levels. Abundances between the two groups differ by more than 1σ in Ca, Mn, C, O, and Al, and more than 2σ in Si and Mg. Terzan 5 stars have lower [α/Fe] and higher [Mn/Fe] than their bulge counterparts. Given those differences, we conclude that Terzan 5 is not the remnant of a major building block of the bulge. We also estimate the stellar mass of the Terzan 5 progenitor based on predictions by the Evolution and Assembly of GaLaxies and their Environments suite of cosmological numerical simulations, concluding that it may have been as low as ∼3 × 108 M⊙ so that it was likely unable to significantly influence the mean chemistry of the bulge/inner disc, which is significantly more massive (∼1010 M⊙). We briefly discuss existing scenarios for the nature of Terzan 5 and propose an observational test that may help elucidate its origin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2020

Space Launch System Mobile Launcher Modal Pretest Analysis

NASA is developing an expendable heavy lift launch vehicle capability, the Space Launch System, to support lunar and deep space exploration. To support this capability, an updated ground infrastructure is required including modifying an existing Mobile Launcher system. The Mobile Launcher is a very large heavy beam/truss steel structure designed to support the Space Launch System during its buildup and integration in the Vehicle Assembly Building, transportation from the Vehicle Assembly Building out to the launch pad, and provides the launch platform at the launch pad. The previous Saturn/Apollo and Space Shuttle programs had integrated vehicle ground vibration tests of their integrated launch vehicles performed with simulated free-free boundary conditions to experimentally anchor and validate structural and flight controls analysis models. For the Space Launch System program, the Mobile Launcher will be used as the modal test fixture for the ground vibration test of the first Space Launch System flight vehicle, Exploration Mission ? 1( now referred to as Artemis 1), programmatically referred to as the Integrated vehicle modal test. The Integrated vehicle modal test of the Exploration Mission - 1 integrated launch vehicle will have its core and second stages unfueled while mounted to the ML while inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, which is currently scheduled for the late spring or early summer of 2020. The Space Launch System program has implemented a building block approach for dynamic model validation. The modal test of the Mobile Launcher is an important part of this building block approach in supporting the integrated vehicle modal test since the Mobile Launcher will serve as a structurally dynamic test fixture whose modes will couple with the modes of the Exploration Mission ? 1 test vehicle. The Mobile Launcher modal test will further support understanding the structural dynamics of the Mobile Launcher and SLS during rollout to the launch pad, which will play a key role in better understanding and prediction of the rollout forces acting on the launch vehicle. The Mobile Launcher modal test is currently scheduled for the summer of 2019. Due to a very tight modal testing schedule, this Mobile Launcher modal pretest analysis has been performed to ensure there is a high likelihood of being able to successfully complete the modal test (i.e. identify the primary target modes) using the planned instrumentation, shakers, and excitation types. This paper will discuss this Mobile Launcher modal pretest analysis and the unique challenges faced due to the Mobile Launcher's size and weight, which are typically not faced when modal testing aerospace structures.

Akers, James C.↗

DOE OSTI2024

Self-Assembling Microgrids for Resilient Distribution Systems of the Future: Implementation in a Commercial DERMS Platform

Microgrids have long provided resilience to critical facilities such as hospitals and military installations, and they are now increasingly being looked at as a building block for future grids to support the energy resilience needs of the grid of the future. State-of-the-art technologies, such as blackstart algorithms using renewable distributed energy resources (DERs) to effectively and seamlessly form microgrids, have been produced by national labs over the years. Their adoption by the utility industry would be critical to reap the most benefits toward energy and climate resilience, and the pathway is via commercialization of these self-assembling microgrid algorithms by integrating them in a commercial product platform. This project brings a national labs team (LLNL, LANL) together with a vendor (Smarter Grid Solutions) to perform proof-of-concept integration of the algorithms into the vendor’s commercial Distributed Energy Resources Management System (DERMS). The project provides a strong pathway to commercialization of the algorithms thereby promoting adoption of resilient microgrid technology by utilities to offer resilience benefits to all customers and especially to disadvantaged and underserved communities.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2020

Reconfiguring DNA Nanotube Architectures via Selective Regulation of Terminating Structures

Molecular assemblies inside cells often undergo structural reconfiguration in response to stimuli to alter their function. Adaptive reconfiguration of cytoskeletal networks, for example, enables cellular shape change, movement, and cargo transport and plays a key role in driving complex processes such as division and differentiation. The cellular cytoskeleton is a self-assembling polymer network composed of simple filaments, so reconfiguration often occurs through the rearrangement of its component filaments’ connectivities. DNA nanotubes have emerged as promising building blocks for constructing programmable synthetic analogs of cytoskeletal networks. Nucleating seeds can control when and where nanotubes grow and capping structures can bind nanotube ends to stop growth. Such seeding and capping structure, collectively called termini, can organize nanotubes into larger architectures. However, these structures cannot be selectively activated or inactivated in response to specific stimuli to rearrange nanotube architectures, a key property of cytoskeletal networks. Here we demonstrate how selective regulation of the binding affinity of DNA nanotube termini for DNA nanotube monomers or nanotube ends can direct the reconfiguration of nanotube architectures. Using DNA hybridization and strand displacement reactions that specifically activate or inactivate four orthogonal nanotube termini, we demonstrate that nanotube architectures can be reconfigured by selective addition or removal of unique termini. Lastly, we show how terminus activation could be a sensitive detector and amplifier of a DNA sequence signal. These results could enable the development of adaptive and multifunctional materials or diagnostic tools.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

The rate of microtubule breaking increases exponentially with curvature

Microtubules, cylindrical assemblies of tubulin proteins with a 25 nm diameter and micrometer lengths, are a central part of the cytoskeleton and also serve as building blocks for nanobiodevices. Microtubule breaking can result from the activity of severing enzymes and mechanical stress. Breaking can lead to a loss of structural integrity, or an increase in the numbers of microtubules. We observed breaking of taxol-stabilized microtubules in a gliding motility assay where microtubules are propelled by surface-adhered kinesin-1 motor proteins. We find that over 95% of all breaking events are associated with the strong bending following pinning events (where the leading tip of the microtubule becomes stuck). Furthermore, the breaking rate increased exponentially with increasing curvature. These observations are explained by a model accounting for the complex mechanochemistry of a microtubule. The presence of severing enzymes is not required to observe breaking at rates comparable to those measured previously in cells.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NASA NTRS1982

Teleoperator maneuvering system

The teleoperator maneuvering system (TMS), consisting of the vehicle, the shuttle orbiter bay cradle with airborne support equipment, and the aft flight deck control station, is described. The vehicle is a reusable remotely controlled free flying vehicle capable of a variety of missions including payload placement, retrieval, servicing, viewing, and large space systems assembly support. The TMS flies preprogrammed trajectories as well as being controlled or reprogrammed from the aft flight deck or the ground. A building block design philosophy is described which permits the evolution of capability as it is needed and delays cost as much as possible. Various mission operations are discussed.

Turner, J. R.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Computationally designed coiled coil ‘bundlemers’ as model colloidal nanoparticles for solution assembly and materials design (Final Report)

As a collaborative team at the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania, Kloxin, Pochan and Saven designed new biomimetic nanomaterials de novo, leveraging a variety of complementary areas of expertise: computational design of biopolymers (Saven at the University of Pennsylvania), and synthesis and characterization (Kloxin and Pochan at the University of Delaware). Overall activities included: sequence-specific peptide synthesis; covalent crosslinking; noncovalent assembly; site-specific functionalization; and nanostructural characterization using electron microscopy and solution-phase (x-ray and neutron) scattering. Using natural and non-natural amino acids, the team created modular, functional peptide building blocks for elaboration of new nanostructured materials. Ultimately, the development of robust peptide-based, building blocks provides tools for researchers to readily produce complex nanomaterial structures in a wide range of applications. The project had three, interconnecting goals in an effort to provide the broader scientific community with a new peptide-based paradigm for materials design and characterization. First, we further developed the coiled-coil bundle-based toolbox (otherwise known as the ‘bundlemer’ toolbox) via computational design with experimental bundle assembly verification. Second, we developed new uses of covalent interactions, in addition to desired physical (noncovalent) interactions, to assemble bundlemers into 1-D polymer chains with targeted chain rigidity, length, and dispersity. Thirds, we used the above designs to experimentally realize (physical or covalent) polymers to target the creation of liquid crystals or to realize interparticle assembly into nanoporous lattices. The close integration of the three groups was instrumental in success of the biomolecular materials design, formation, and understanding for future designs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1993

A widely adaptable habitat construction system utilizing space resources

This study suggests that the cost of providing accommodations for various manned activities in space may be reduced by the extensive use of resources that are commonly found throughout the solar system. Several concepts are proposed for converting these resources into simple products with many uses. Concrete is already being considered as a possible moonbase material. Manufacturing equipment should be as small and simple as possible, which leads to the idea of molding it into miniature modules that can be produced and assembled in large numbers to create any conceivable shape. Automated equipment could build up complex structures by laying down layer after layer in a process resembling stereolithography. These tiny concrete blocks handle compression loads and provide a barrier to harmful radiation. They are joined by a web of tension members that could be made of wire or fiber-reinforced plastic. The finished structure becomes air-tight with the addition of a flexible liner. Wire can be made from the iron modules found in lunar soil. In addition to its structural role, a relatively simple apparatus can bend and weld it into countless products like chairs and shelving that would otherwise need to be supplied from Earth. Wire woven into a loose blanket could be an effective micrometeoroid shield, tiny wire compression beams could be assembled into larger beams which in turn form larger beams to create very large space-frame structures. A technology developed with lunar materials could be applied to the moons of Mars or the asteroids. To illustrate its usefulness several designs for free-flying habitats are presented. They begin with a minimal self-contained living unit called the Cubicle. It may be multiplied into clusters called Condos. These are shown in a rotating tether configuration that provides a substitute for gravity. The miniature block proposal is compared with an alternate design based on larger triangular components and a tetrahedral geometry. The overall concept may be expanded to envision city-sized self-sufficient environments where humans could confortably live their entire lives. One such proposal is the Hive. It is configured around a unique sunlight collection system that could provide all its energy needs and that could be scaled up to compensate for the reduced solar intensity at greater distances from the sun. Its outer perimeter consists of a cylindrical section mated to two conical end walls that taper inwards toward a small aperture at the center of rotation. Light collected by two huge mirrors of unusual design enters the aperture and is redirected to the inside of the cylinder. The conical end walls are shielded from direct sunlight and are designed to radiate heat into space. They are lined with air ducts that passively recirculate the atmosphere while extracting moisture by condensation. Although there is no immediate demand for spacecraft on this scale, their consideration can influence even the earliest stages of the development process.

Wykes, Harry B.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Thermally reconfigurable monoclinic nematic colloidal fluids

Fundamental relationships are believed to exist between the symmetries of building blocks and the condensed matter phases that they form. For example, constituent molecular and colloidal rods and disks impart their uniaxial symmetry onto nematic liquid crystals, such as those used in displays. Low-symmetry organizations could form in mixtures of rods and disks, but entropy tends to phase-separate them at the molecular and colloidal scales, whereas strong elasticity-mediated interactions drive the formation of chains and crystals in nematic colloids. To have a structure with few or no symmetry operations apart from trivial ones has so far been demonstrated to be a property of solids alone, but not of their fully fluid condensed matter counterparts, even though such symmetries have been considered theoretically and observed in magnetic colloids. In this work, we show that dispersing highly anisotropic charged colloidal disks in a nematic host composed of molecular rods provides a platform for observing many low-symmetry phases. Depending on the temperature, concentration and surface charge of the disks, we find nematic, smectic and columnar organizations with symmetries ranging from uniaxial to orthorhombic and monoclinic. With increasing temperature, we observe unusual transitions from less- to more-ordered states and re-entrant phases. Most importantly, we demonstrate the presence of reconfigurable monoclinic colloidal nematic order, as well as the possibility of thermal and magnetic control of low-symmetry self-assembly. Our experimental findings are supported by theoretical modelling of the colloidal interactions between disks in the nematic host and may provide a route towards realizing many low-symmetry condensed matter phases in systems with building blocks of dissimilar shapes and sizes, as well as their technological applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2026

Mesoporous peptide frameworks engineered from crystallizable collagen-mimetic peptide amphiphiles

The rational design of porous frameworks with tunable pore dimensions and chemical functionalities is a critical step toward their implementation in diverse applications. While traditional porous materials are typically constructed from abiotic components, there is increasing interest in employing biologically derived building blocks (e.g., peptides and proteins) that offer unmatched structural and functional diversity. Here, we report the construction of crystalline mesoporous frameworks that are self-assembled from amphiphilic collagen-mimetic peptides. Comprehensive structural characterization via microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational techniques provides insights into the assembly packing model, in which hexagonally packed channels are interconnected by antiparallel-aligned collagen triple helices via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Lastly, we demonstrate the functional potential of aCMP frameworks through the encapsulation of various molecular guests, including doxorubicin, an anti-cancer drug. Overall, this work establishes a class of mesoporous frameworks, derived from synthetically engineerable peptide conjugates, marking a significant step forward in broadening the architectural scope and application potential of peptide-based materials.

Perez, Anthony R↗

NASA NTRS1998

Advanced Electric Distribution, Switching, and Conversion Technology for Power Control

The Electrical Power Control Unit currently under development by Sundstrand Aerospace for use on the Fluids Combustion Facility of the International Space Station is the precursor of modular power distribution and conversion concepts for future spacecraft and aircraft applications. This unit combines modular current-limiting flexible remote power controllers and paralleled power converters into one package. Each unit includes three 1-kW, current-limiting power converter modules designed for a variable-ratio load sharing capability. The flexible remote power controllers can be used in parallel to match load requirements and can be programmed for an initial ON or OFF state on powerup. The unit contains an integral cold plate. The modularity and hybridization of the Electrical Power Control Unit sets the course for future spacecraft electrical power systems, both large and small. In such systems, the basic hybridized converter and flexible remote power controller building blocks could be configured to match power distribution and conversion capabilities to load requirements. In addition, the flexible remote power controllers could be configured in assemblies to feed multiple individual loads and could be used in parallel to meet the specific current requirements of each of those loads. Ultimately, the Electrical Power Control Unit design concept could evolve to a common switch module hybrid, or family of hybrids, for both converter and switchgear applications. By assembling hybrids of a common current rating and voltage class in parallel, researchers could readily adapt these units for multiple applications. The Electrical Power Control Unit concept has the potential to be scaled to larger and smaller ratings for both small and large spacecraft and for aircraft where high-power density, remote power controllers or power converters are required and a common replacement part is desired for multiples of a base current rating.

Soltis, James V.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Designer Nanomaterials through Programmable Assembly

Nanoparticles have long been recognized for their unique properties, leading to exciting potential applications across optics, electronics, magnetism, and catalysis. These specific functions often require a designed organization of particles, which includes the type of order as well as placement and relative orientation of particles of the same or different kinds. DNA nanotechnology offers the ability to introduce highly addressable bonds, tailor particle interactions, and control the geometry of bindings motifs. Here, we discuss how developments in structural DNA nanotechnology have enabled greater control over 1D, 2D, and 3D particle organizations through programmable assembly. This Review focuses on how the use of DNA binding between nanocomponents and DNA structural motifs has progressively allowed the rational formation of prescribed particle organizations. Here, we offer insight into how DNA-based motifs and elements can be further developed to control particle organizations and how particles and DNA can be integrated into nanoscale building blocks, so-called “material voxels”, to realize designer nanomaterials with desired functions.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Reconfigurable Magnetic Liquid Building Blocks for Constructing Artificial Spinal Column Tissues

All-liquid molding can be used to transform a liquid into free-form solid constructs, while maintaining internal fluidity. Traditional biological scaffolds, such as cured pre-gels, are normally processed in solid state, sacrificing flowability and permeability. However, it is essential to maintain the fluidity of the scaffold to truly mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of natural human tissues. Here, this work molds an aqueous biomaterial ink into liquid building blocks with rigid shapes while preserving internal fluidity. The molded ink blocks for bone-like vertebrae and cartilaginous-intervertebral-disc shapes, are magnetically manipulated to assemble into hierarchical structures as a scaffold for subsequent spinal column tissue growth. It is also possible to join separate ink blocks by interfacial coalescence, different from bridging solid blocks by interfacial fixation. Generally, aqueous biomaterial inks are molded into shapes with high fidelity by the interfacial jamming of alginate surfactants. The molded liquid blocks can be reconfigured using induced magnetic dipoles, that dictated the magnetic assembly behavior of liquid blocks. The implanted spinal column tissue exhibits a biocompatibility based on in vitro seeding and in vivo cultivating results, showing potential physiological function such as bending of the spinal column.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2020

The Role of Dimer Formation in the Nucleation of Superlattice Transformations and Its Impact on Disorder

The formation of defect-free two-dimensional nanocrystal (NC) superstructures remains a challenge as persistent defects hinder charge delocalization and related device performance. Understanding defect formation is an important step toward developing strategies to mitigate their formation. However, specific mechanisms of defect formation are difficult to determine, as superlattice phase transformations that occur during fabrication are quite complex and there are a variety of factors influencing the disorder in the final structure. Here, we use Molecular Dynamics (MD) and electron microscopy in concert to investigate the nucleation of the epitaxial attachment of lead chalcogenide (PbX, where X = S, Se) NC assemblies. We use an updated implementation of an existing reactive force field in an MD framework to investigate how initial orientational (mis)alignment of the constituent building blocks impacts the final structure of the epitaxially connected superlattice. This Simple Molecular Reactive Force Field (SMRFF) captures both short-range covalent forces and long-range electrostatic forces and allows us to follow orientational and translational changes of NCs during superlattice transformation. Our simulations reveal how robust the oriented attachment is with regard to the initial configuration of the NCs, measuring its sensitivity to both in-plane and out-of-plane misorientation. We show that oriented attachment nucleates through the initial formation of dimers, which corroborate experimentally observed structures. We present high-resolution structural analysis of dimers at early stages of the superlattice transformation and rationalize their contribution to the formation of defects in the final superlattice. Collectively, the simulations and experiments presented in this paper provide insights into the nucleation of NC oriented attachment, the impact of the initial configuration of NCs on the structural fidelity of the final epitaxially connected superlattice, and the propensity to form commonly observed defects, such as missing bridges and atomic misalignment in the superlattice due to the formation of dimers. Here, we present potential strategies to mitigate the formation of superlattice defects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2024

Dynamic Nanocrystal Superlattices with Thermally Triggerable Lubricating Ligands

The size-dependent and collective physical properties of nanocrystals (NCs) and their self-assembled superlattices (SLs) enable the study of mesoscale phenomena and the design of metamaterials for a broad range of applications. However, the limited mobility of NC building blocks in dried NCSLs often hampers the potential for employing postdeposition methods to produce high-quality NCSLs. In this study, we present tailored promesogenic ligands that exhibit a lubricating property akin to thermotropic liquid crystals. The lubricating ability of ligands is thermally triggerable, allowing the dry solid NC aggregates deposited on the substrates with poor ordering to be transformed into NCSLs with high crystallinity and preferred orientations. The interplay between the dynamic behavior of NCSLs and the molecular structure of the ligands is elucidated through a comprehensive analysis of their lubricating efficacy using both experimental and simulation approaches. Coarse-grained molecular dynamic modeling suggests that a shielding layer from mesogens prevents the interdigitation of ligand tails, facilitating the sliding between outer shells and consequently enhancing the mobility of NC building blocks. Further, the dynamic organization of NCSLs can also be triggered with high spatial resolution by laser illumination. The principles, kinetics, and utility of lubricating ligands could be generalized to unlock stimuli-responsive metamaterials from NCSLs and contribute to the fabrication of NCSLs.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗