Nematic Liquid Crystal Film Research Articles

Study of Langmuir-Blodgett films of chiral nematic liquid crystals prepared by a templating method

The ordered alignment of liquid crystal molecules plays a critical role in the applications of their optical properties. Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer films of chiral nematic liquid crystal, 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl(5CB), doped with a proprietary left-handed chiral additive were prepared using stearic acid (SA) as template. The Langmuir isotherms of the chiral nematic liquid crystal at the CdCl2 interface with SA were studied. In the surface pressure curves, there was one sharp peak at the transition from gas phase to liquid phase. The phenomenon is considered to be the phase-separation of liquid crystals from SA. The chiral nematic liquid crystal multilayers LB films were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and atomic force microscopy. The results show that the chiral nematic liquid crystals were homogeneously and regularly dispersed in the SA template.

Highly anisotropic thermal conductivity of discotic nematic liquid crystalline films with homeotropic alignment.

Discotic nematic liquid crystal (DNLC) films are prepared by thermal treatment and a photo-crosslinking reaction inside sandwiched glass plates. The DNLC films exhibit outstanding in-plane thermal conductivity which is much larger than cross-plane thermal conductivity. The homeotropic alignment and higher crosslinking density of DNLCs in the films further increase the thermal conductivity anisotropy.

Analysis of a variational model for nematic shells

We analyze an elastic surface energy which was recently introduced by G. Napoli and L. Vergori to model thin films of nematic liquid crystals. We show how a novel approach in modeling the surface’s extrinsic geometry leads to considerable differences with respect to the classical intrinsic energy. Our results concern three connected aspects: (i) using methods of the calculus of variations, we establish a relation between the existence of minimizers and the topology of the surface; (ii) we prove, by a Ginzburg–Landau approximation, the well-posedness of the gradient flow of the energy; (iii) in the case of a parametrized torus we obtain a stronger characterization of global and local minimizers, which we supplement with numerical experiments.

Control of the plasmonic resonance of a graphene coated plasmonic nanoparticle array combined with a nematic liquid crystal

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a switchable plasmonic device based on a conductive graphene oxide (cGO) coated plasmonic nanoparticle (NP) array, layered with nematic liquid crystal (NLC) as an active medium. A monolayer of NPs has been immobilized on a glass substrate through electrostatic interaction, and then grown in place using nanochemistry. This monolayer is then coated with a thin (less then 100nm) cGO film which acts simultaneously as both an electro-conductive and active medium. The combination of the conductive NP array with a separate top cover substrate having both cGO and a standard LC alignment layer is used for aligning a NLC film in a hybrid configuration. The system is analysed in terms of morphological and electro-optical properties. The spectral response of the sample characterized after each element is added (air, cGO, NLC) reveals a red-shift of the localized plasmonic resonance (LPR) frequency of approximately 62nm with respect to the NP array surrounded by air. The application of an external voltage (8Vpp) is suitable to modulate (blue shift) the LPR frequency by approximately 22nm.

Surface-Controlled Orientational Transitions in Elastically Strained Films of Liquid Crystal That Are Triggered by Vapors of Toluene.

We report the fabrication of chemically patterned microwells that enable the rapid and facile preparation (by spin coating and patterned dewetting) of thin films of liquid crystals (LCs) that have precise thicknesses (0.7-30 μm), are supported on chemically defined substrates, and have free upper surfaces. We use these microwells to prepare elastically strained nematic LC films supported on silica glass, gold, or polystyrene substrates and thereby characterize the response of the strained LC films to vapors of toluene. We report that low concentrations of toluene vapor (<500 ppm) can partition into the LC to lower the anchoring energy of the LC on these substrates, thus allowing the elastic energy of the strained LC film to drive the LC films through an orientational transition. The central role of the toluene-induced change in surface anchoring energy is supported by additional experiments in which the response of the nematic LC to changes in film thickness and substrate identity are quantified. A simple thermodynamic model captures these trends and yielded estimates of anchoring energies (8-22 μJ/m(2)). Significantly, the orientational transitions observed in these strained LC thin films occur at concentrations of toluene vapor that are almost 1 order of magnitude below those which lead to bulk phase transitions, and they are not triggered by exposure to water vapor. Overall, these results hint at principles for the design of responsive LC-based materials that can be triggered by concentrations of aromatic, volatile organic compounds that are relevant to human health.

Director structures with dominant in-plane alignment in hybrid planar films of biaxial nematic liquid crystals: A Monte Carlo study

Equilibrium director structures in two thin hybrid planar films of biaxial nematics are investigated through Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations based on a lattice Hamiltonian model within the London dispersion approximation. While the substrates of the two films induce similar anchoring influences on the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules (viz. planar orientation at one end and perpendicular, or homeotropic, orientations at the other), they differ in their coupling with the minor axes of the molecules. In Type-A film the substrates do not interact with the minor axes at all (which is experimentally relatively more amenable), while in Type-B, the orientations of the molecular axes at the surface layer are influenced as well, by their biaxial coupling with the surface. Both films exhibit expected bending of the director associated with the ordering of the molecular long axes due to surface anchoring. Simulation results indicate that the Type-A film hosts stable director structures in the biaxial nematic phase of the LC medium, with the primary director lying in the plane of the film. High degree of this stable order thus developed could be of practical interest for potential applications. Type-B film, on the other hand, experiences competing interactions among the minor axes due to incompatible anchoring influences at the bounding substrates, apparently leading to frustration.

Circular flow formation triggered by Marangoni convection in nematic liquid crystal films with a free surface.

We demonstrate circular flow formation at a surface in homeotropically oriented nematic liquid crystals with a free surface using focused laser beam irradiation. Under a weak laser power, a pit together with an associated circular bulge is formed: the Marangoni effect. Here a diverging molecular flow from the pit (thermocapillary flow) also induces director tilt in the radial direction. Upon increasing the laser power, the pit becomes deeper, and eventually evolves into a circular flow associated with a deeper pit and a subsidiary circular bulge or valley structure. This phenomenon is induced by escaping from excess deformation energy due to a bend deformation of the director. Actually, we confirmed that the circular flow is never formed in the isotropic phase. The handedness of the vortex cannot be controlled by circular polarisation, but is controllable by doping with chiral molecules. This rotational motion (a nematic micro-rotor) is a unique phenomenon only exhibited by anisotropic liquids, and is expected to be applied for novel devices.

Electric field generation of Skyrmion-like structures in a nematic liquid crystal.

Skyrmions are particle-like topological objects that are increasingly drawing attention in condensed matter physics, where they are connected to inversion symmetry breaking and chirality. Here we report the generation of stable Skyrmion-like structures in a thin nematic liquid crystal film on chemically patterned patchy surfaces. Using the interplay of material elasticity and surface boundary conditions, we use a strong electric field to quench the nematic liquid crystal from a fully aligned phase to vortex-like nematic liquid crystal structures, centered on patterned patches, which carry two different sorts of topological defects. Numerical calculations reveal that these are Skyrmion-like structures, seeded from the surface boojum topological defects and swirling towards the second confining surface. These observations, supported by numerical methods, demonstrate the possibility to generate, manipulate and study Skyrmion-like objects in nematic liquid crystals on patterned surfaces.

Capillary-induced giant elastic dipoles in thin nematic films

Directed and true self-assembly mechanisms in nematic liquid crystal colloids rely on specific interactions between microparticles and the topological defects of the matrix. Most ordered structures formed in thin nematic cells are thus based on elastic multipoles consisting of a particle and nearby defects. Here, we report, for the first time to our knowledge, the existence of giant elastic dipoles arising from particles dispersed in free nematic liquid crystal films. We discuss the role of capillarity and film thickness on the dimensions of the dipoles and explain their main features with a simple 2D model. Coupling of capillarity with nematic elasticity could offer ways to tune finely the spatial organization of complex colloidal systems.

Morse's index formula in VMO for compact manifolds with boundary

In this paper, we study Vanishing Mean Oscillation vector fields on a compact manifold with boundary. Inspired by the work of Brezis and Nirenberg, we construct a topological invariant — the index — for such fields, and establish the analogue of Morse's formula. As a consequence, we characterize the set of boundary data which can be extended to nowhere vanishing VMO vector fields. Finally, we show briefly how these ideas can be applied to (unoriented) line fields with VMO regularity, thus providing a reasonable framework for modeling a surface coated with a thin film of nematic liquid crystals.

Photoinduced polymer-stabilised chiral nematic liquid crystal films reflecting both right- and left-circularly polarised light

A phototunable polymer-stabilised liquid crystal film reflecting both right- and left-circularly polarised light has been successfully fabricated by a washout/refill method. The film was obtained by prefabricating the polymer network with a left-handed helical structure and then refilling a light-driven chiral nematic liquid crystal with a right-handed helical structure into the network. Interestingly, the reflection wavelength and the reflectivity properties can be precisely tuned by UV-light irradiation. A hyper-reflective notch, the reflectivity of which approaches 100%, was achieved in a layer when the pitch lengths of the two opposite helical structures are almost the same. Moreover, their original state can be properly returned by visible-light irradiation.

Elastocapillary interactions on nematic films

Rod-like colloids distort fluid interfaces and interact by capillarity. We explore this interaction at the free surface of aligned nematic liquid crystal films. Naive comparison of capillary and elastic energies suggests that particle assembly would be determined solely by surface tension. Here, we demonstrate that, under certain circumstances, the capillary and elastic effects are complementary and each plays an important role. Particles assemble end-to-end, as dictated by capillarity, and align along the easy axis of the director field, as dictated by elasticity. On curved fluid interfaces, however, curvature capillary energies can overcome the elastic orientations and drive particle migration along curvature gradients. Domains of dominant interaction and their transition are investigated.

Homeotropic orientation behavior of nematic liquid crystals induced by copper ions

A homeotropic ordering film of nematic liquid crystal (LC) induced by copper ions (Cu2+) had been developed. The Cu(ClO4)2 was directly spin-coated on the glass substrate without any other chemical modification. A homeotropic orientation of LC thin-film was generated by the interfacial chemical interaction between nitrile-containing LC and copper ions on the surface. Results showed that an appropriate density of Cu2+ could shorten the response time of orientation, but a shelf-time was prolonged. The LC film fabrication not only offered a simple process, but also presented a great repeatability to detect organophosphonates (DMMP). This study provided guidance for the design of LC films responding to organic molecules as a biosensor.

All-optical switching of nematic liquid crystal films driven by localized surface plasmons.

We have demonstrated an all-optical technique for reversible in-plane and out-of-plane switching of nematic liquid crystal molecules in few micron thick films. Our method leverages the highly localized electric fields ("hot spots") and plasmonic heating that are generated in the near-field region of densely packed gold nanoparticle layers optically excited on-resonance with the localized surface plasmon absorption. Using polarized microscopy and transmission measurements, we observe this switching from homeotropic to planar over a temperature range starting at room temperature to just below the isotropic transition, and at on-resonance excitation intensity less than 0.03 W/cm(2). In addition, we controllably vary the in-plane directionality of the liquid crystal molecules in the planar state by altering the linear polarization of the incident excitation. Using discrete dipole simulations and control measurements, we establish spectral selectivity in this new and interesting perspective for photonic application using low light power.

INTERPLAY BETWEEN ART AND SCIENCE IN EDUCATION: “MUSIC” BASED APPROACH IN NANOSCIENCES

Music can be viewed as a structure formed by notes. Different structures in music have potential to yield enormously rich diversity of different melodies. Music is a typical example where a structure defines a property. Similar concepts could be also exploited in education, in presented case in nano-sciences, which are typical representatives of soft materials the structure of which can be strongly manipulated with local geometry and presence of appropriate nanoparticles. The objects of study, named also LC shells, will be exploited as basic unit elements for future soft colloidal crystals. A different arrangement of colloids within the crystal would result in different physical properties in a similar way as different packing of atoms results in different crystals made of real atoms. In presented research will be demonstrated, how relevant basic mechanisms in thin films of nematic liquid crystals could be explained in a classroom and used as a case study, also for explanation of many other physical properties. This research topic is still in its infancy. At this stage only various defect structures in relatively simple geometries (spherical and elliptical) will be analyzed. There is a need to find simple ways to control sensitively the valence of LC shells and in particular to develop strategies to assemble them in crystal structures of desired symmetry. This would allow tailoring specific optical dispersion relations or other physical property of interest and make new ways to teach different physical properties on the »music« based approach. Key words: teaching/learning strategies, »music« based approach, topological defects, localized states, nanoscience, soft materials, liquid crystalline shells.

Large-area monolayer hexagonal boron nitride on Pt foil.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has recently been in the spotlight due to its numerous applications including its being an ideal substrate for two-dimensional electronics, a tunneling material for vertical tunneling devices, and a growth template for heterostructures. However, to obtain a large area of h-BN film while maintaining uniform thickness is still challenging and has not been realized. Here, we report the systematical study of h-BN growth on Pt foil by using low pressure chemical vapor deposition with a borazine source. The monolayer h-BN film was obtained over the whole Pt foil (2 × 5 cm(2)) under <100 mTorr, where the size is limited only by the Pt foil size. A borazine source was catalytically decomposed on the Pt surface, leading to the self-limiting growth of the monolayer without the associating precipitation, which is very similar to the growth of graphene on Cu. The orientation of the h-BN domains was largely confined by the Pt domain, which is confirmed by polarizing optical microscopy (POM) assisted by the nematic liquid crystal (LC) film. The total pressure and orientation of the Pt lattice plane are crucial parameters for thickness control. At high pressure (∼0.5 Torr), thick film was grown on Pt (111), and in contrast, thin film was grown on Pt (001). Our advances in monolayer h-BN growth will play an important role to further develop a high quality h-BN film that can be used for vertical tunneling, optoelectronic devices and growth templates for a variety of heterostructures.

Effect of phase shift between geometrical and chemical patterning in nematic liquid crystal cells: A Monte Carlo study

Thin films of nematic liquid crystals confined to geometrically as well as chemically patterned substrate at one end and a planar substrate with strong anchoring at the other are studied employing non-Boltzmann Monte Carlo methods. We investigate the effect of temperature on the director structures as the system goes through the isotropic-nematic phase transition. The low temperature results show significant deviations from the phase diagram predicted within the continuum approximation, depicted as a function of the tilt angle at the top substrate and the thickness of the cell. Onset of phase biaxiality is observed at very low temperatures, and it increases as the tilt angle at the top substrate is increased, moving away from the normal to the substrate. A phase shift introduced between the geometrical and chemical patterns at the other end also enhances the phase biaxiality of the system to a fairly high value. This seems to provide a convenient experimentally tunable parameter for controlling the symmetry of the director structures.

Liquid Crystal Temperature Sensor Based on a Micrometric Structure and a Metallic Nanometric Layer

This letter presents a novel temperature sensor, which consists of an interdigitated comb electrode structure with a micrometric-scale size, nanometric metallic layer, and nematic liquid crystal (NLC) film. This sensor exploits the permittivity dependence of the NLC with temperature and principle of electrical conductivity above the percolation threshold in thin film metallic layers. The latter has been demonstrated to increase the temperature sensitivity considerably. The high impedance input reduces the power dissipation, and the high enough voltage output makes it easy to measure the output signal with high precision. The operation principle and fabrication process as well as the characterization of the temperature sensor are presented. Experimental results show that the device offers a sensitivity of 9 mV/°C and is dependent on the applied voltage. This is six times greater than the same structure without the use of a nanometric layer.

Liquid crystal high-resolution optically addressed spatial light modulator using a nanodimensional chalcogenide photosensor

The fabrication and performance of an optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) based on nematic liquid crystal and nanodimensional amorphous arsenic trisulfide (a-As2S3) chalcogenide glassy films are described. The photoconductive a-As2S3 layers are used both as photoalignment material and as a photosensor. The use of the OASLM as a color converter is demonstrated in the transmission mode. The phase retardation dynamic range is over 3π. Diffraction efficiency measurements show a high resolution (150 lp/mm at 50% MTF). A wide variety of materials from the chalcogenide glass (ChG) family are useful for simple fabrication of high-resolution OASLMs depending on the desired wavelength.

Metal Nanoparticle Based All-Optical Photothermal Light Modulator

We present a simple scheme for the manipulation of light intensity by light mediated by a dissipative process. The implementation employs the heat released by an optically excited plasmonic metal nanoparticle to control the size of an isotropic bubble in a nematic liquid crystal film. The nematic film is designed as a zero-order half-wave plate that rotates an incident probe light polarization by π/2 and is blocked by an analyzing polarizer behind the structure. The growing isotropic bubble disturbs the half-wave plate and causes the probe to be transmitted through the modulator structure. Our results demonstrate that dissipative processes may be advantageously used to control light by light.