Self-organization processes and topological defects in nanolayers in a nematic liquid crystal

Abstract

Atomic force microscopy is used to study the self-organization processes that occur during the formation of topological defects in nanomolecular layers in a nematic liquid crystal with the homeotropic orientation of its molecules with respect to the substrate. In this case, a smectic monolayer with a thickness of one molecule length (about 2.2 nm) forms on the substrate, and a nanomolecular layer of a nematic liquid crystal forms above this monolayer. In such virtually two-dimensional layers, numerous different nanoclusters, namely, hut structures, pyramids, raft structures with symmetry Cnm (where n = 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, …, ∞), cones, and nanopools, form [1]. They have a regular shape close to the geometry of solid crystals. Modulated linear structures and topological point defects appear spontaneously in the nanopools and raft structures.