(29i) Simulation-Driven Design of Chemoresponsive Liquid Crystal Sensors By Tuning Analyte Partitioning
AIChE Annual Meeting
2020
2020 Virtual AIChE Annual Meeting
Engineering Sciences and Fundamentals
Rational Design and Optimization of Soft Materials
Monday, November 16, 2020 - 10:00am to 10:15am
In this work, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to quantify the partitioning and diffusion of nine small-molecule analytes, including four common atmospheric pollutants, in model systems representative of LC sensors. We first parameterize all-atom models for 4-cyano-4â²-pentylbiphenyl (5CB), a mesogen typically used for LC sensors, and all analytes. We validate these models by reproducing experimentally determined 5CB structural parameters, 5CB diffusivity, and analyte Henry's law constants in 5CB. Using the all-atom models, we calculate analyte solvation free energies and diffusivities in bulk 5CB. These simulation-derived quantities are then used to parameterize a mass-transport model to predict sensor activation times. These results demonstrate that differences in analyteâLC interactions can translate into distinct activation times to distinguish activation by different analytes. Finally, we quantify the effect of LC composition by calculating analyte solvation free energies in TL205, a proprietary LC mixture. These calculations indicate that varying the LC composition can modulate activation times to further improve sensor selectivity. These results thus provide a computational framework for guiding LC sensor design by using molecular simulations to predict analyte transport as a function of LC composition.