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Chemically induced splay nematic phase with micron scale periodicity
Perri L M Connor1, Richard J Mandle
1Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. Richard.mandle@york.ac.uk.
Soft Matter
|December 14, 2019
Summary
Researchers chemically induced a novel splay nematic (NS) phase by mixing two liquid crystal materials. This discovery provides a new method for creating materials with this unique polar nematic variant, advancing technology development.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Liquid Crystal Research
Background:
- Nematic liquid crystals exhibit orientational order but lack positional order.
- Modulated nematic phases have periodic orientation variations.
- The splay nematic (NS) phase features periodic splay deformation perpendicular to the director.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the first chemical induction of a splay nematic phase via binary mixtures.
- To identify a new route for generating materials exhibiting the NS phase.
- To complement studies on structure-property relationships in polar nematic variants.
Main Methods:
- Chemical induction by mixing two specific liquid crystal materials.
- Identification using optical textures and X-ray scattering patterns.
- Measurement of the associated phase transition enthalpy and splay periodicity.
Main Results:
- Successfully generated a splay nematic phase from a binary mixture.
- Neither constituent material individually exhibits the NS phase.
- Optical measurements determined a splay periodicity of approximately 9 μm.
- The phase transition exhibited a small enthalpy.
Conclusions:
- Binary mixtures offer an unexpected and effective route to chemically induce the splay nematic phase.
- This method complements existing approaches to NS phase generation.
- Accelerates development of technologies utilizing this polar nematic variant.
