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Published on: October 31, 2019
Nanoparticles in nematic liquid crystals: interactions with nanochannels
Francisco R Hung1, Brian T Gettelfinger, Gary M Koenig
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1691, USA.
The Journal of Chemical Physics
|October 2, 2007
Summary
Confined nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) and nanochannels create strong interactions with nanoparticles. This interaction can stabilize unusual nanoparticle arrays, offering new possibilities for self-assembly.
Area of Science:
- Soft Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Spherical nanoparticles interact with confined nematic liquid crystals (NLCs).
- Understanding these interactions is crucial for controlling nanoparticle assembly.
- Previous studies have not fully explored NLC-mediated forces in confined geometries.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate structures formed by nanoparticles in confined NLCs.
- Determine the potential of mean force between particles and channels.
- Analyze factors influencing NLC-nanoparticle interactions within nanochannels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mesoscale theory based on the tensor order parameter Q.
- Calculated the potential of mean force for particle-channel and particle-particle interactions.
- Simulated nanoparticle behavior in various nanochannel geometries.
Main Results:
- Observed strong NLC-mediated interactions (hundreds of kBT) between nanoparticles and channel walls.
- Interaction strength depends on defect structures, nematic ordering, and nanoparticle size relative to channel width.
- Cylindrical channels exhibited the strongest interactions; geometric modifications reduced these interactions.
- Linear nanoparticle arrays with Saturn ring defects were stabilized in nanochannels.
Conclusions:
- Nanochannel geometry and NLC ordering significantly influence nanoparticle interactions.
- Nanochannels can stabilize nanoparticle arrangements not seen in bulk NLCs.
- This work suggests potential for using confined NLCs and nanochannels to direct nanoparticle self-assembly into ordered structures.
