Polymer–Liquid Crystal Composites: Their Structure, Function, and Emerging Applications
A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart and Functional Polymers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 927
Special Issue Editor
Interests: liquid crystal devices; photopolymerization; photo-alignment; fiber optics; fiber optic sensors; tunable photonic devices; 3D microprinting; stereolithography; two-photon polymerization
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymer–liquid crystal composites represent a versatile class of soft materials that combine the structural tunability, processability, and mechanical robustness of polymers with the unique anisotropic, responsive, and self-organizing properties of liquid crystals. Recent progress in molecular design, synthesis, and fabrication techniques has enabled unprecedented control over the composite architectures of these composites across multiple length scales, unlocking novel functional behaviors. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest developments in the understanding and engineering of polymer–liquid crystal systems, spanning topics from fundamental structure–property relationships and phase behavior to advanced characterization methods and scalable manufacturing strategies. Particular emphasis will be placed on emerging applications, including flexible optics, photonic devices, stimulus-responsive coatings, wearable sensors, soft actuators, and biomedical interfaces. By bringing together contributions from chemistry, materials science, physics, and engineering, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of how the synergy between polymers and liquid crystals is driving innovation in next-generation functional materials
Dr. Sławomir Ertman
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- polymer–liquid crystal composites
- liquid crystalline polymers
- responsive materials
- photonic devices
- soft actuators
- wearable sensors
- self-assembly
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