Soft materials could be used in robotics and computers, thanks to a recent development from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.
For the first time, a group of researchers from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering has demonstrated how basic logic components can be constructed using a substance called a liquid crystal, clearing the path for an entirely fresh approach to computing.
While the findings, which were just published in Science Advances, show that we won’t be able to create transistors using this method straight away, the methodology has the potential to enable devices with novel functions in sensing, computing, and robotics.
Juan de Pablo, a distinguished scientist at Argonne National Laboratory and the Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering, said, “We showed you can create the elementary building blocks of a circuit—gates, amplifiers, and conductors—which means you should be able to assemble them into arrangements capable of performing more complex operations.”
How Does the Method Work
The goal of the study is to learn more about a type of material known as a liquid crystal. A liquid crystal’s molecules tend to be stretched, but when packed together, they form a structure with order, similar to the straight rows of atoms in a diamond crystal.
Although, unlike a liquid, the structure of a liquid crystal can shift about instead of being locked in one location.
Scientists are continuously on the lookout for unexpected patterns in materials because they serve as the foundations for future technologies.
However, as a result of this strange molecular behaviour, there are areas in all liquid crystals where the ordered regions rub up against one other and their orientations don’t exactly match, resulting in “topological defects,” as scientists name them. As the liquid crystal flows, these dots shift about.
The research team is collaborating with collaborators to conduct experiments to confirm the theoretical findings, which includes co-author and University of Chicago postdoctoral researcher Ali Mozaffari.
To read our blog on “Meta to launch one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers to process its data,” click here.
