Twist elastic constant of chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystals determined by tactoid reconfiguration in electric field.

Lyotropic chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted significant attention and great progress has been made. Investigating their physical parameters, especially the twist elastic constant (K), is pivotal for advancing our comprehension of fundamental viscoelastic property of chiral nematic phase. In this study, we demonstrate a straightforward method to simultaneously estimate K and helical twisting power (K) of chiral nematic CNCs. This method involves analyzing rheology properties and electro-response of CNCs, focusing on the rotational dynamics and structural reconfiguration of CNC tactoids under an electric field. By examining the rotation dynamics of CNC tactoids under an electric field, together with the viscosity characterization, the anisotropic dielectric susceptibility (∆χ) of chiral nematic CNC along the helix axis was determined. Subsequently, K/∆χ was extracted by analyzing CNC tactoid pitch evolution under an electric field, employing the de Gennes model. The K for different concentrated CNCs is finally estimated by integrating experimental results and theory. It is shown that the chiral nematic CNCs present concentration-dependent K, ranging from 0.05 to 0.14 pN, while K spans from 0.06 to 0.14 pN/μm. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the CNC fundamental viscoelastic property and opens up new avenues for K measurement in other lyotropic liquid crystals.