TUNABLE THERMOSTATIC MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR PREPARATION AND USE

1 . A thermostatic material comprising a mixture of a plurality of mesogens, wherein the plurality of mesogens form a homogeneous mesophase state.

2 .- 26 . (canceled)

27 . The thermostatic material of claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric outer shell encasing the mixture of the plurality of mesogens, wherein the polymeric shell includes polyacrylate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, or any combination thereof.

28 .- 29 . (canceled)

30 . The thermostatic material of claim 1 , wherein the thermostatic material is a composite of polymer layers interposed with the mixture, the polymer layers sealed along an outer edge of the polymer layers to contain the mixture.

31 . (canceled)

32 . A method of regulating temperature of an article, the method comprising:

placing the thermostatic material at least adjacent at least one surface of the article, wherein the thermostatic material comprises a mixture of a plurality of mesogens, wherein the plurality of mesogens form a homogeneous mesophase state;

wherein the thermostatic material undergoes a phase transition as a surrounding temperature of the article approaches a phase transition temperature of the thermostatic material, and the thermostatic material exchanges heat with the article during the phase transition to regulate temperature of the article.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein providing the thermostatic material comprises:

determining a temperature at which the article is to be regulated; and

configuring the thermostatic material to have a phase transition temperature at the temperature at which the article is to be regulated.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein configuring the thermostatic material comprises:

selecting mesogens having structurally similar mesophases at temperatures of about the temperature at which the article is to be regulated; and

mixing the mesogens at a mixing ratio selected to tune the phase transition temperature of the thermostatic material to the temperature at which the article is to be regulated.

35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material including polymer liquid crystals having at least one of the mesogens, and the polymer liquid crystals form a homogeneous mesophase state.

36 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material having an eutectic mixture of liquid crystals comprising the mesogens, and the eutectic mixture of liquid crystals forms a homogeneous mesophase state.

37 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material comprising a polymerized composite of the mesogens and at least one additional monomer.

38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing the thermostatic material comprising an acrylate monomer.

39 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material including an outer shell encasing the mixtures of the plurality of mesogens.

40 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material comprising a composite of polymer layers interposed with the mixture, the polymer layers sealed along an outer edge of the polymer layers to contain the mixture.

41 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material wherein the mixture is one or more of a solid and a liquid.

42 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material wherein the mixture is a mesophase.

43 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material wherein the mixture is a liquid.

44 . The method of claim 32 , wherein placing the thermostatic material comprises placing a thermostatic material having a eutectic mixture of the plurality of mesogens.

45 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the exchanging of heat between the thermostatic material and the article occurs during a phase change of the thermostatic material.

46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein exchanging of heat between the thermostatic material and the article comprises a transition from solid phase to mesophase, mesophase to solid phase, mesophase to isotropic liquid phase, isotropic liquid phase to mesophase, or any combination thereof.

47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the exchanging of heat comprises a lower-temperature conversion from a solid phase to a mesophase at a temperature of about 0° C., and a higher-temperature conversion from the mesophase to an isotropic liquid phase at a temperature of about 30° C.

48 . The method of claim 32 , wherein regulating the temperature of an article comprises regulating the temperature of an electronic device, a pharmaceutical drug, a vaccine, a food, or a beverage.

49 . A thermostatic packaging comprising a thermostatic material configured to regulate temperature within the packaging, the thermostatic material comprising a mixture of a plurality of mesogens, wherein the plurality of mesogens form a homogeneous mesophase state.

50 . The thermostatic packaging of claim 49 , wherein the packaging is configured to contain an electronic device.

51 . The thermostatic packaging of claim 49 , wherein the packaging is configured to contain a pharmaceutical drug, a vaccine, a food, or a beverage.

52 . The thermostatic packaging of claim 49 , wherein the packaging is a container of a pharmaceutical drug, or a container of a vaccine.

53 . The thermostatic packaging of claim 49 , wherein the packaging is a food container or a beverage container.

54 .- 68 . (canceled)