Recent advances in functional liquid crystals with nanomaterials

Liquid crystals (LCs) are a fascinating physical state of matter associated with crystal order and liquid mobility at different hierarchical levels. LCs have found various emerging applications in diverse fields, ranging from advanced information displays, materials science and bioscience to nanoscience and nanotechnology. The marriage of LCs with nanoscience could afford soft frameworks to direct the self-assembly of diverse nanomaterials, which represents a new paradigm for the development of advanced multifunctional, programmable and reconfigurable materials. Furthermore, nanomaterials could endow LCs with novel functionalities, offering new opportunities for applications in photonics, energy and safety. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and state-of-the-art assessment of recent progression in nanoscience-based LCs and their promising applications. We begin with an overview of molecular alignment in LCs with nanotechnology, such as developing nanopatterns and introducing nanoparticles. Recent advancements regarding functional nanoparticles in low-molecular-weight LCs are then discussed, including the modulation of LC properties using functional nanoparticles, tailoring of self-assembly and synergetic enhancement of nanostructures with LCs. We also introduce recent efforts toward the development of functional LC elastomers with nanomaterials. Topical discussion of these advanced functional materials attempts to pivot from the basic design concepts to specific emerging applications. This review provides new insight into the immeasurable opportunities and challenges presented by these advanced functional liquid-crystalline architectures, and their potential applications in pioneering interdisciplinary research in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials, biology, engineering, nanoscience and nanotechnology. • State-of-the-art assessment of functional liquid crystals with nanomaterials • Self-organized alignment of liquid crystals enabled by emerging nanotechnology • Multifarious fascinating properties of nanoparticle-doped liquid crystals • Soft actuators and tunable structural color of nanohybrid liquid crystal elastomers • Critical perspectives for comparative advantages and unresolved challenges