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Atoms and molecules interact with each other through intermolecular forces. These electrostatic forces arise from attractive or repulsive interactions between particles with permanent, partial, or temporary charges. The intermolecular forces between neutral atoms and molecules are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, and dispersion forces, collectively known as van der Waals forces.
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Explosive electrostatic instability of ferroelectric liquid droplets on ferroelectric solid surfaces.

Raouf Barboza1, Stefano Marni1, Fabrizio Ciciulla1

  • 1Dipartimento Scienze e Ingegneria dei Materiali e dell'Ambiente e Urbanistica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|August 1, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Ferroelectric liquid droplets explosively disintegrate into fractal jets when exposed to a lithium niobate substrate

Keywords:
electrostatic instabilityferroelectric liquid crystallithium niobate

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrochemistry

Background:

  • Ferroelectric materials exhibit spontaneous electric polarization.
  • Liquid crystals possess unique optical and electrical properties.
  • Pyroelectric effect describes the change in polarization with temperature.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the electrostatic interactions between ferroelectric liquid droplets and a lithium niobate substrate.
  • Understand the electromechanical instability and disintegration of ferroelectric liquid crystals.
  • Explore the role of pyroelectric fields in droplet fragmentation.

Main Methods:

  • Experimental observation of ferroelectric liquid droplets on a lithium niobate substrate.
  • Temperature-controlled phase transition studies of liquid crystals.
  • Analysis of fluid jet formation and fractal branching patterns.

Main Results:

  • Ferroelectric liquid droplets undergo explosive disintegration into fractal jets upon cooling into the ferroelectric phase.
  • The disintegration is driven by electrostatic repulsion exceeding surface tension, a form of Rayleigh instability.
  • Droplet fragmentation is influenced by the pyroelectric field of the lithium niobate substrate and solid-fluid interface coupling.
  • Multiple explosive disintegration events can occur as temperature decreases.

Conclusions:

  • The study reveals a novel electromechanical instability in ferroelectric liquid crystals.
  • Pyroelectric fields play a crucial role in droplet fragmentation dynamics.
  • Observed fractal jetting behavior offers insights into electrohydrodynamic instabilities.