Graduate Student Seminar
December 08, 2023
12:00 p.m. ET
Scaife Hall 105
Unraveling the governing factors for cholesteric liquid crystal self-assembly of polysaccharides
Thanks to their earth abundance and their ability to self-assemble in photonic crystals, cholesteric polysaccharides have been investigated as the basis for functional optical nanomaterials. However, the effects of polysaccharide chemistry and solvent-polymer interaction on the formation of the cholesteric phase remain understudied. In this talk, we explain how different thermodynamic and chemical factors influence the self-assembly and optical properties of cholesteric mesophases constructed from suspensions of polysaccharides, such as cellulose ethers. Through a systematic data analysis framework we developed, we elucidate structure-property relationships linking solubility, viscosity, and hydrogen bonding to the cholesteric pitch and resulting optical properties. Then, we discuss how chemical factors such as molecular weight and repeat-unit chemistry affect kinetics of liquid-crystalline self-assembly. These relationships are expected to assist in the large-scale deployment of polysaccharide-based functional materials with direct optical assessment of temperature, mechanical strain, or humidity.
Cécile A. C. Chazot, Northwestern University
Chazot (she/her/hers) is the Julia Weertman Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University, where she leads the Sustainable Polymer Innovation laboratory (SPIn lab). Her research seeks to develop sustainable polymer-based materials, with an equal focus on environmental and societal impact. Her focus areas include fiber-based materials, biopolymers, large-scale processing, structural colors, and engineering education. She earned her Ph.D. in 2022 from the Department of Materials Science & Engineering (DMSE) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), under the supervision of Prof. A. John Hart, and a M.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering from Mines Paristech (France). She is also a co-founder of the Materials Initiative for Comprehensive Research Opportunity (MICRO), a remote educational program to empower minoritized undergraduates to conduct research in materials science. Cecile’s work lies at the interface of educational initiatives and innovation in materials and manufacturing, which led her to receive the Arthur Nowick Award and a Silver Graduate Student Award at the 2021 Materials Research Society (MRS) Fall Meeting.
Upcoming Events
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December 6 2023
3:00 PM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Chemo-Mechanical Interactions to Improve Intestinal Retention of Ingestible Medical Devices, presented by Durva Naik
2327 Wean Hall
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December 8 2023
1:00 PM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Cylindrical Grain Boundary Motion in the Isoconfigurational Ensemble, presented by Anqi Qiu
2327 Wean Hall
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December 12 2023
9:00 AM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Ph.D. Program Information Session
Join us for a virtual discussion about becoming part of the Materials Science and Engineering graduate student community.
Zoom link to be shared upon registration
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December 12 2023
2:00 PM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Ingestible Electronics for Diagnostics and Therapy, presented by Gaurav Balakrishnan
Scott Hall 6142
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December 13 2023
9:00 AM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Masters Program Information Session
Join us for a virtual discussion about becoming part of the Materials Science and Engineering graduate student community.
Zoom link to be shared upon registration
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December 14 2023
9:00 AM ET
Materials Science and Engineering
Nanomaterial-Enabled Optical Modulation of Neural Activity, presented by Yingqiao Wang
Scott Hall 4N200