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Pagidi S, Kim M, Manda R, Ahn S, Yong Jeon M, Hee Lee S. Ideal micro-lenticular lens based on phase modulation of optically isotropic liquid crystal-polymer composite with three terminals. J Mol Liq 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
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Norouzi S, Zhang R, Munguia-Fernández JG, de Pablo L, Zhou Y, Taheri-Qazvini N, Shapiro H, Morin S, Martinez-Gonzalez JA, Sadati M, de Pablo JJ. Director Distortion and Phase Modulation in Deformable Nematic and Smectic Liquid Crystal Spheroids. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:15272-15281. [PMID: 36454950 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The growing interest in integrating liquid crystals (LCs) into flexible and miniaturized technologies brings about the need to understand the interplay between spatially curved geometry, surface anchoring, and the order associated with these materials. Here, we integrate experimental methods and computational simulations to explore the competition between surface-induced orientation and the effects of deformable curved boundaries in uniaxially and biaxially stretched nematic and smectic microdroplets. We find that the director field of the nematic LCs upon uniaxial strain reorients and forms a larger twisted defect ring to adjust to the new deformed geometry of the stretched droplet. Upon biaxial extension, the director field initially twists in the now oblate geometry and subsequently transitions into a uniform vertical orientation at high strains. In smectic microdroplets, on the other hand, LC alignment transforms from a radial smectic layering to a quasi-flat layering in a compromise between interfacial and dilatation forces. Upon removing the mechanical strain, the smectic LC recovers its initial radial configuration; however, the oblate geometry traps the nematic LC in the metastable vertical state. These findings offer a basis for the rational design of LC-based flexible devices, including wearable sensors, flexible displays, and smart windows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Norouzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Rui Zhang
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Juan G Munguia-Fernández
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1580, San Luis Potosí 78295, México
| | - Luis de Pablo
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 1362 E 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Ye Zhou
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Nader Taheri-Qazvini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Harrison Shapiro
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 1362 E 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Samuel Morin
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 1362 E 59th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Jose A Martinez-Gonzalez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1580, San Luis Potosí 78295, México
| | - Monirosadat Sadati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States
| | - Juan J de Pablo
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
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Lee SL, Kim M, Lee D, Lin YH, Lee SH. Optically isotropic nano-size encapsulation of nematic liquid crystals with a high-filling factor. J Mol Liq 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2022.119254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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