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Area of Science:

  • Soft Matter Physics
  • Materials Science
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Morphogenesis involves complex topological shape changes, rare in inanimate systems.
  • Nematic liquid crystals exhibit unique orientational properties.
  • Understanding shape transformations is key to controlling soft materials.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate a topological shape transformation in nematic liquid crystal droplets.
  • To investigate the role of elastic constants in driving these transformations.
  • To explore potential applications in morphogenesis and material design.

Main Methods:

  • Observation of nematic liquid crystal droplet shape changes.
  • Analysis of elastic constants (splay, bend) influencing molecular orientation.
  • Theoretical investigation of topological transitions.

Main Results:

  • Nematic liquid crystal droplets transition from spherical tactoids to toroidal shapes.
  • Elastic anisotropy, specifically the interplay of splay and bend constants, drives this transformation.
  • The transition is facilitated in tactoids but hindered in toroids due to elastic properties.

Conclusions:

  • Nematic elastic anisotropy can induce topological shape transformations in liquid crystal droplets.
  • This mechanism provides a model for understanding topology changes in biological morphogenesis.
  • The findings open avenues for controlling and transforming the shapes of liquid crystals and related soft materials.