Photopatterned Designer Disclination Networks in Nematic Liquid Crystals
Photopatterned Designer Disclination Networks in Nematic Liquid Crystals
复制标题
向列液晶中的光模式设计器偏斜网络
DOI：
10.1002/adom.202100181
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发表时间：
2021-05-18
影响因子：
9
通讯作者：
Wei, Qi-Huo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Guo, Yubing;Jiang, Miao;Wei, Qi-Huo
线性缺陷向错对于理解软物质物理学、基本粒子物理学、宇宙学和各个数学分支所探索的复杂结构具有根本意义。这些缺陷在材料应用中也具有实际重要性，例如可编程折纸、定向胶体组装和活性物质的控制。这里展示了一种有效的工程方法，可以在两个平坦的限制表面上形成分子取向图案，从而产生强度为 1/2 的奇异向错的复杂但可设计的网络。根据边界板上预先设计的导向图案，产生的向错要么是表面锚定的，连接边界处的所需位置，要么是自由悬浮的，形成多边形和波浪线的有序阵列。通过改变其中一个限制板上的均匀对准方向，可以控制向错的曲率半径、尺寸和形状。精确设计和创建高度复杂的 3D 向错网络的能力有望在刺激响应可重构材料、分子、微米和纳米粒子的定向自组装以及微流体应用中的传输和分类中产生有趣的应用。
Linear defect-disclinations are of fundamental interest in understanding complex structures explored by soft matter physics, elementary particles physics, cosmology, and various branches of mathematics. These defects are also of practical importance in materials applications, such as programmable origami, directed colloidal assembly, and command of active matter. Here an effective engineering approach is demonstrated to pattern molecular orientations at two flat confining surfaces that produce complex yet designable networks of singular disclinations of strength 1/2. Depending on the predesigned director patterns at the bounding plates, the produced disclinations are either surface-anchored, connecting desired sites at the boundaries, or freely suspended in bulk, forming ordered arrays of polygons and wavy lines. The capability is shown to control the radius of curvature, size, and shape of disclinations by varying uniform alignment orientation on one of these confining plates. The capabilities to precisely design and create highly complex 3D disclination networks promise intriguing applications in stimuli-responsive reconfigurable materials, directed self-assembly of molecules, micro- and nanoparticles, and transport and sorting in microfluidic applications.