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Modulated nematic structures induced by chirality and steric polarization.
1Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Department of Statistical Physics, Jagiellonian University, Łojasiewicza 11, Kraków, Poland.
Physical Review. E
|May 14, 2016
Summary
Researchers explored one-dimensional modulated nematic structures (ODMNS) in chiral and nonchiral liquid crystals. They discovered four ODMNS in nonchiral materials, including two novel periodic wave structures, and analyzed the impact of chirality on these phases.
Area of Science:
- Liquid Crystal Physics
- Materials Science
- Theoretical Chemistry
Background:
- Bent-core and dimeric materials exhibit complex liquid crystalline phases.
- Understanding one-dimensional modulated nematic structures (ODMNS) is crucial for advanced materials.
- Chirality significantly influences the behavior of liquid crystalline phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation of ODMNS in both nonchiral and intrinsically chiral liquid crystalline materials.
- To identify and characterize novel ODMNS using theoretical modeling.
- To explore the influence of molecular chirality on the stability and formation of these structures.
Main Methods:
- Application of Landau-de Gennes theory for nematics.
- Inclusion of molecular steric polarization effects.
- Theoretical analysis of phase formation in chiral and nonchiral systems.
Main Results:
- Identification of four bulk ODMNS in nonchiral materials, including novel longitudinal (N_{LP}) and transverse (N_{TP}) periodic waves.
- Detailed characterization of the twist-bend nematic (N_{TB}) and splay-bend nematic (N_{SB}) phases.
- Demonstration that molecular chirality converts N_{TP} and N_{SB} into new N_{TB} phases.
- Observation that the nonchiral N_{LP} phase remains stable even with intrinsic chirality.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals a richer landscape of ODMNS than previously known, particularly in nonchiral systems.
- Chirality plays a complex role, transforming some structures while leaving others, like N_{LP}, remarkably stable.
- These findings advance the fundamental understanding of liquid crystal phase behavior and material design.
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