UV-cured networks containing Liquid Crystalline Phases: State of the Art and Perspectives

This chapter aims to review the current state of the art and the future perspectives specifically concerning the use of liquid-crystalline (LC) monomers in UV-curable systems. More specifically, the effect of the LC monomer structure on the photopolymerization reaction, as well as on the topography/morphology of the cured networks is thoroughly discussed, also taking into account the eventual segregation phenomena of LC phases that may occur upon exposure to UV radiation. Furthermore, the final thermal, dielectric, viscoelastic and mechanical features of the UV-cured systems containing LC phases are described. In the final part of the chapter, some recent applications of UV-cured networks containing liquid-crystalline phases (i.e. hybrid organic inorganic nanocomposite thin films, stimuli-responsive materials, actuators, shape-memory materials, biomedical components, …) are presented and discusse