Hierarchical self-assembly in liquid crystals

Abstract

Liquid crystal elasticity forms distortions and topological defects that allow for the controlled self-assembly of inclusions within liquid crystal media. Many groups have developed this idea for dispersion, alignment, and manipulation of a collection of individual particles to create plasmonic polarizers and others have studied colloidal crystallization processes within LC hosts. Extending this idea to consider more complex superstructures where a variety of forces can produce effects on larger lengthscales can expand the space of materials design and answer first principles questions about complex fluid dynamics. I will discuss results on colloidal inclusions at liquid-liquid and liquid- air interfaces where surface tension and capillary forces augment elasticity to provide the necessary tools for such hierarchical self-assembly.