Freely suspended nematic and smectic films and free-standing smectic filaments in the ferroelectric nematic realm
Keith G. Hedlund, Vikina Martinez, Xi Chen, Cheol S. Park, Joseph E. Maclennan, Matthew A. Glaser, Noel A. Clark
Abstract
phase can also be drawn into thin filaments, in which X-ray scattering reveals that the smectic layer planes are normal to the filament axis. Remarkably, the filaments are mechanically stable even if they break, forming free-standing, fluid filaments supported only at one end. The unique architectures of these films and filaments are stabilized by the electrostatic self-interaction of the liquid crystal polarization field, which enables the formation of confined, fluid structures that are fundamentally different from those of their counterparts made using previously known liquid crystal phases.
Topics & Concepts
Liquid crystalFerroelectricityMaterials sciencePhase (matter)PolarCondensed matter physicsReflection (computer programming)OpticsChemistryOptoelectronicsPhysicsOrganic chemistryProgramming languageAstronomyComputer scienceDielectricLiquid Crystal Research AdvancementsSurfactants and Colloidal SystemsAdvanced Materials and Mechanics