U.S. - Slovenia Research on Nano- and Micro-Scale Templating of Liquid Crystalline Materials

布朗大学的Gregory Crawford、肯特州立大学的Daniele Finotello和卢布尔雅那大学的Slobodan Zumer共同开展的这项美国-斯洛文尼亚研究项目研究了限制在纳米到微米尺寸模板上的向列相液晶的结构和有序性。每个机构的博士后研究员以及研究生和本科生也将参加这个国际团队。多学科研究计划涉及三个互补领域：1)使用预制模板的纳米级限制，2)光自扩散介导的模板，以及3)回流介导的模板。后两个领域是合成和表征创新结构的新方向，这些创新结构是通过使用多光束全息术的光自扩散创建的，以及通过光聚合捕获回流创建的不寻常结构的。一些实验技术将被用来理解这些新结构的基础物理，包括核磁共振技术，光散射，电光，以及理论和模拟。研究结果将增进我们对液晶及其在使用软凝聚材料的新兴纳米和微尺度技术中的潜在应用的基本理解。这个纳米材料项目实现了计划的目标，即通过使美国和中欧的专家能够在相互感兴趣和能力很强的领域结合互补的人才和共享研究资源来促进科学知识的发展。更广泛的影响包括通过在合作机构的工作将美国和斯洛文尼亚的学生介绍到国际研究界，以及直接参与该项目的高级表征、建模和制造技术。

This U.S.-Slovene research project between Gregory Crawford of Brown University, Daniele Finotello of Kent State University, and Slobodan Zumer of the University of Ljubljana examines the structure and ordering of nematic liquid crystals confined to templates ranging from nano- to micro-sized dimensions. Postdoctoral fellows as well as graduate and undergraduate students from each institution will also participate on this international team. The multidisciplinary research plan involves three complementary areas: 1) nanoscale confinement utilizing prefabricated templates, 2) photo-self diffusion mediated templating, and 3) back-flow mediated templating. These latter two areas are a new thrust in synthesis and characterization of innovative structures created by photo-self-diffusion using multiple beam holography and the capturing of unusual structures created from back flow with photopolymerization. Several experimental techniques will be applied to understand the underpinning physics of these novel structures, including nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, light scattering, electro-optics, as well as theory and simulation. Results should improve our fundamental understanding of liquid crystals and their potential applications in emerging nano- and micro-scale technologies using soft condensed materials.This project in nanoscale materials fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling experts in the United States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and share research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence. Broader impacts include the introduction of U.S. and Slovenian students to the international research community through work at partner institutions and direct involvement in the project's advanced characterization, modeling and fabrication techniques.