Conventional guest-host liquid crystal (GHLC) devices face critical tradeoffs: cholesteric liquid crystal modes cause haze and require high voltages, while homogeneous alignment modes are severely polarization-dependent. Herein, we propose a polarization-independent GHLC smart window driven by a protrusion-induced multi-domain vertical alignment (MVA) mode. Introducing periodic surface protrusions into a vertical alignment cell induces multi-domain azimuthal orientations under an applied electric field. This chiral-dopant-free multi-domain mode macroscopically averages the dye absorption axes, achieving complete optical isotropy and polarization independence, along with haze-free analog switching and a low driving voltage (similar to 8 V).
Ternary PDPA/Ag/Fe0 nanocomposites were synthesized via in situ oxidative polymerization on steel, promoting direct interfacial bonding. The hierarchical structure comprises silver nanoparticles and substrate-derived iron micro-inclusions within a poly(diphenylamine) matrix. Auger spectroscopy confirms this matrix acts as a hermetic barrier, preserving the iron's metallic state (Fe0). Crucially, the composite acts as a dual-function electroactive surface: it simultaneously suppresses anodic dissolution and facilitates rapid redox kinetics at the solid-liquid interface. This synthesis protocol provides a promising route for developing robust, conductive protective coatings tailored for energy systems operating in aggressive environments.
The microwave shielding properties of epoxy (EP) composites (CMs) with different types of fillers (thermally expanded graphite (TEG), TEG modified with Ni, carbon nanotubes (CNT), iron particles (Fe), mixture (CNT/30%Fe), and 3-layer composite structures (CSs) were investigated in the frequency range of 26-60 GHz. The CM with porous TEG-Ni filler exhibited the best electromagnetic radiation (EMR) shielding parameters and high EMR absorption. The observed significant enhancement of microwave absorption capability for CSs occurs due to the gradient distribution of nanocarbon content in CS layers that provides a good impedance matching and an increase in EMR absorption (A = 0.87-0.97) inside CSs.
