Functional Liquid Crystals towards the Next Generation of Materials

Since the discovery of the liquid‐crystalline state in 1888, liquid crystal science has made great advances through fusion with various technologies and disciplines. Recently, new molecular design strategies and new self‐assembled structures have been developed as a result of the progress made in synthetic procedures and characterization techniques. Since these liquid crystals exhibit new functions and properties derived from their nanostructures and alignment, a variety of new functions for liquid crystals, such as transport for energy applications, separation for environmental applications, chromism, sensing, electrooptical effects, actuation, and templating have been proposed. This Review presents recent advances of liquid crystals that should contribute to the next generation of materials. New molecules and self‐assembled structures have been developed recently for liquid crystals. As a result a variety of new functions for liquid crystals, such as transport for energy applications, separation, chromism, sensing, electrooptical effects, actuation, and template have also been described.