Engineering Advanced Composite Materials Using Liquid Crystals: From Device Application to Unconventional Cosmetics

Abstract

Mixing two individually well-known materials is an established route to engineering composites with tailored properties. Such composite materials, namely those based on liquid crystals, offer the possibility of exploring phase behaviors in condensed soft matter, leading to exotic phenomena and technological innovations. This contribution reviews the design and application of advanced liquid crystal-based composites, which show emergent and intriguing properties that stem from interactions with strong magnetic fields or confinement in condensed polymer systems. This review should be of interest to academics and industries interested in magneto-responsive materials, non-volatile memory, and innovative approaches to protect and beautify the skin.