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Elastic Instability of Cubic Blue Phase Nano Crystals in Curved Shells
Sepideh Norouzi1, Antonio Tavera-Vazquez2, Johanan Ramirez-de Arellano3
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, United States.
ACS Nano
|September 27, 2022
Summary
Surface curvature significantly impacts blue phase (BP) liquid crystal crystallization. Increased curvature and confinement transform the BPI phase into the BPII phase, crucial for flexible electronic devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Crystallography
Background:
- Crystallization in curved geometries is vital for biomineralization and ice formation but poorly understood.
- Blue phase (BP) liquid crystals possess tunable optical properties and rapid response times, making them suitable for photonic applications.
- BP liquid crystals feature cubic symmetries (BPI, BPII) with submicrometer lattices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of surface curvature on blue phase liquid crystal crystallization.
- To understand how BP liquid crystals reconfigure their lattice structure in response to curvature.
- To explore the potential of BPs in curved and flexible electronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Systematic study of BPs confined within spherical shells of defined curvature.
- Optical characterization of BP liquid crystals at room temperature.
- Analysis of structural transitions and defect formation under varying confinement.
Main Results:
- Higher curvature and confinement destabilize the BPI phase, inducing a transition to the BPII phase.
- Cholesteric phase transitions from focal conic domains to stripe patterns with increasing curvature.
- Curvature and confinement promote skyrmion nucleation at larger thicknesses compared to flat geometries.
Conclusions:
- Surface curvature is a critical factor in controlling BP liquid crystal phase behavior and structure.
- The findings are essential for the development of flexible and miniaturized devices utilizing BP liquid crystals.
- This research provides fundamental insights into curved-space crystallization phenomena.
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