研究目的
Investigating how geometry affects the equilibrium director configuration of a nematic liquid crystal confined to stable toroidal droplets with homeotropic anchoring.
研究成果
The study concludes that the confinement geometry induces spontaneous reflection symmetry breaking in nematic liquid crystals with homeotropic anchoring, leading to a twisted and escaped radial director configuration. The magnitude of the twist distortion is controlled by the aspect ratio of the torus, demonstrating that geometry can be used to tune chirality in liquid crystals.
研究不足
The study is limited to nematic liquid crystals with homeotropic anchoring and does not explore other types of anchoring or liquid crystals. The direct measurement of twist is not possible due to the TER structure not satisfying the required Mauguin criterion.
1：Experimental Design and Method Selection:
The study involves confining a nematic liquid crystal (5CB) with homeotropic anchoring to stable toroidal droplets and studying the equilibrium director configuration. The methodology includes computer simulations of optically polarized microscopy textures and numerical calculations to understand the effect of local geometry on the twist distortion.
2：Sample Selection and Data Sources:
The samples used are toroidal droplets made with the NLC 4-Cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) in an outer yield-stress medium consisting of a jammed dispersion of polyacrylamide hydrogels.
3：List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
The materials include 5CB (Heibei Chemical Co.), polyacrylamide hydrogels (Carbopol ETD 2020, Lubrizol), and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, Sigma Aldrich). Equipment includes cylindrical capillaries (VitroCom) and possibly others not specified.
4：Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
The procedure involves creating toroidal droplets, observing them under bright-field and crossed-polar microscopy, and analyzing the images to study the director configuration.
5：Data Analysis Methods:
The analysis includes measuring intensity profiles from crossed-polarized images and using Jones calculus to simulate crossed-polarized textures for a toroidal TER configuration.
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