Paintable soft photonic architectures featuring multi-stable light-actuation.

Honglong Hu, Wentan Wan, Xuan Liu, Xinshi Liang, Conglong Yuan, Yiran Ren, Yuxing Zhan, Zhi-Gang Zheng, Wei-Hong Zhu

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in Light, science & applications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

1citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

Dihydrobenzofuro[3,2-Chemical science · 2026
Article

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Honglong HuKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Wentan WanSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Xuan LiuSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Xinshi LiangKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Conglong YuanKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0336-9837

Yiran RenSchool of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Yuxing ZhanSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Zhi-Gang ZhengSchool of Physics, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China. zgzheng@ecust.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5609-5369

Wei-Hong ZhuKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Functional Materials Chemistry, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China. whzhu@ecust.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9103-166X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 22305079National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 61822504, 62275081National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 62505085

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Dynamic photoprogramming of paintable liquid crystal photonic devices with multi-stability shows practical application in smart soft materials and responsive optics. However, there exist three key challenges that limit their development: achieving precise paintability with controllable viscosity and resolution, maintaining well-ordered liquid crystal photonic structures, and enabling multi-stable photoresponsive behavior. Here, we address these limitations by incorporating an intrinsic photoswitch into a cellulose-based liquid crystal system, further constructing a unique paintable helical photonic architecture featuring both multi-stability and dynamic light-actuation. The intrinsic chiral photoswitch enables multi-stable modulation of helical pitch, while optimized viscosity restrains the remarkable fluidity of traditional liquid crystal systems and matches proper surface anchoring, thereby allowing for paintability and programming of a photonic device. The cutting-edge single-step painting enables highly efficient, large-area and well-defined patterning of helical architectures on diverse flexible substrates, thereby promoting prospective applications in anti-counterfeiting, information encryption, and smart window-film. This strategy establishes a robust and versatile foundation that integrates practical explorations in soft matter photonics with state-of-the-art engineering applications, such as multifunctional interactive optical information systems and advanced intelligent flexible sensors.

Identifiers

PMID41476063

DOI10.1038/s41377-025-02083-7

PMCPMC12756290

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.