Abstract
This work presents the first high-resolution nanoprofilometry study consisting of nanoscale resolution surface profile measurements and high-quality visualization of a the free surface of a liquid crystal–air boundary. The capabilities of this new experimental method, as applied for liquid crystal free boundaries, are discussed. The formation of focal conic domain structures at the smectic-A–air free boundary was detected and studied.
Highlights
The free surface of liquid crystals has been a subject of great interest since the beginning of liquid crystal science
Liquid crystalline free boundary research is very important because it shows that the intrinsic free surface properties are not influenced by the substrate anchoring [1,2]
In this paper we report the first application of a nanoprofilometer for analysis of the free surface of liquid crystals
Summary
The free surface of liquid crystals has been a subject of great interest since the beginning of liquid crystal science. Liquid crystalline free boundary research is very important because it shows that the intrinsic free surface properties are not influenced by the substrate anchoring [1,2] This understanding is important for display-quality technology and production enhancement. Interesting attempts to apply profilometry to liquid crystalline surfaces has been previously undertaken [9,10] One of such profilometers [9] had high precision, this was one order of magnitude less than the results obtained with the interferometric surface structure analysis work of this paper. In another [10], the sample became solid after evaporation of the liquid part of the suspension. The sample was cooled at a rate of 0.5 °C/min starting from isotropic liquid
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