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Giant-block twist grain boundary smectic phases.

J Fernsler¹, L Hough, R-F Shao

¹Department of Physics and Liquid Crystal Materials Research Center, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0390, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|September 24, 2005

Summary

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Chiral smectic materials with twist grain boundary (TGB) phases exhibit grid patterns due to "giant" smectic blocks. These blocks, separated by sharp grain boundaries (GBs), explain the observed TGB helix and thermal contraction phenomena.

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Condensed Matter Physics
Liquid Crystals

Background:

Chiral smectic materials exhibit complex phases, including twist grain boundary (TGB) phases.
Grandjean textures in TGB phases often display characteristic grid patterns.
Understanding the underlying structure is crucial for predicting material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the common structural origin of grid patterns in chiral smectic TGB phases.
To analyze the role of grain boundaries (GBs) in TGB helix formation and thermal behavior.
To validate theoretical models describing these phenomena.

Main Methods:

Experimental study of diverse chiral smectic materials with TGB phases.
Analysis of Grandjean textures and grid patterns.

Related Experiment Videos

Application of theoretical models for TGB phases with large molecular tilt penetration length.

Main Results:

Identified a common structure involving "giant" smectic blocks (>200 nm) separated by sharp GBs.
Observed GBs mediate large angular jumps (60-90 degrees) and lubricate thermal contraction.
Theoretical models accurately describe the phenomenology, including temperature-dependent helix pitch.

Conclusions:

The observed grid patterns and thermal behavior are attributed to "giant" smectic blocks and sharp GBs.
The theoretical framework is applicable in the limit of weak smectic ordering at GBs.
Block size variation is linked to preparation conditions, with minimal energy cost for size change.