Holographically patterned soft matter: light directed mesoscale phase separation

Holographic photopolymerization (HP) is a simple, fast and attractive means to fabricate one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional (1D, 2D, 3D) complex structures with length scale periodicity commensurate with the optical regime. Herein we review recent progress on how HP can be used to direct mesoscale phase separation of soft matter such as liquid crystals, chromophores, nanoparticles, semicrystalline polymers, block copolymers (BCPs), and polymer electrolytes. The resultant hierarchical structures are ordered, functional and responsive. We show that the marriage between HP and soft matter has brought ample research opportunities in various research fields.

► The marriage between holographic photopolymerization and soft matter has brought new research opportunities. ► Numerous soft matter motifs have been templated into 1D, 2D and 3D photonic structures using light-induced mesoscale phase separation. ► The structure also provides soft and permeable confinement on the patterned soft matter. ► Novel properties such as e-field-sensitive, photo-sensitive, and thermo-sensitive photonic band gap materials have resulted from these structures.