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Interactions of charged microrods in chiral nematic liquid crystals
Muhammed Rasi M1, Ravi Kumar Pujala2, Sathyanarayana Paladugu2
1School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 500046, India.
Physical Review. E
|August 20, 2021
Summary
Charged silica microrods form stable bound states in chiral nematic liquid crystals due to combined electrostatic and elastic forces. Their dynamics and assembly are crucial for understanding particle behavior in these complex fluids.
Area of Science:
- Colloid and interface science
- Soft matter physics
- Materials science
Background:
- Chiral nematic liquid crystals exhibit unique properties influencing particle behavior.
- Understanding interactions of microparticles in liquid crystals is key for advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the pair interaction of charged silica microrods in chiral nematic liquid crystals.
- To elucidate the formation and stability of bound states between these microrods.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of competing electrostatic (Coulomb) and elastic interactions.
- Application of external electrical and mechanical forces to test bound state robustness.
- Two-particle cross-correlation spectroscopy to measure correlated thermal fluctuations.
Main Results:
- Charged silica microrods with homeotropic surface anchoring form a stable bound state.
- The bound state is robust against external electrical and mechanical perturbations.
- Hydrodynamic interactions between microrods in the bound state were uncovered via correlated thermal fluctuations.
Conclusions:
- Electrostatic and elastic forces govern microrod interactions and bound state formation in chiral nematic liquid crystals.
- The findings provide insights into the assembly and dynamics of microparticles in liquid crystal dispersions.
- This research opens new avenues for manipulating and utilizing microparticles in advanced liquid crystal-based systems.
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