On March 13th, Dongyu Zhang successfully defended her PhD thesis titled “Light- and Electricity-Induced Liquid Secretion from Liquid Crystal Polymer Coatings.”
The thesis draws inspiration from nature, where liquid secretion plays a vital role in biological systems—forming protective barriers, regulating temperature, enabling substance transport, and facilitating chemical reactions. Mimicking this adaptive behavior, Dongyu’s research explores the development of synthetic materials capable of secreting liquids in response to external stimuli.
Until now, methods for inducing liquid secretion from solid materials are mostly passive and continuous. In her thesis, Dongyu introduces innovative strategies to fabricate on-demand secretable coatings using liquid crystal networks (LCNs). By photopolymerizing reactive liquid crystal monomers alongside non-reactive liquid crystals, she creates a porous polymer network capable of storing and releasing liquids.
These coatings respond to various stimuli—light, electric fields, or heat—enabling precise control over liquid release. Notably, the molecular alignment within the coating can be programmed, allowing localized or global secretion depending on the application.
Dongyu further demonstrates the functional versatility of these coatings in applications such as surface adhesion control, targeted liquid transfer, localized chemical reactions, and drug delivery. These promising capabilities open new pathways for the development of artificial robotic skins, microfluidic systems, and smart biomedical interfaces, which fill a significant gap in the field of responsive materials and offers a platform adaptable to a broad range of technological and biomedical applications.
Correspondence Mert Astam