Effect of Nanoscale Interfacial Structural Transitions on Liquid Crystal Anchoring

纳米级界面结构转变对液晶锚定的影响

• 批准号: 0312792
• 负责人: ShinWoong Kang
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Kent State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-11-15 至 2008-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0312792&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Effect; Nanoscale; Interfacial; Structural; Transitions

This project focuses on interfaces between liquid crystals (LC) and solid substrates exhibiting a variety of behaviors such as orientational wetting, spreading, memory effects, and anchoring transitions near and far from bulk phase transitions. The goal of the research is to understand surface driven phenomena that have origins in nanoscale organization at the interface of an organic material and the liquid crystal. Experimental techniques such as glancing incidence synchrotron x-ray diffraction, x-ray reflectivity, atomic force and confocal microscopies, and electro-optical measurements will be used to study the nanoscale structure and structural transitions at model interfaces to determine how the underlying interfacial nano-structure affects the anchoring of nematic liquid crystals. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars will be trained in the use of sophisticated facilities and instrumentation while acquiring interdisciplinary scientific knowledge through interactions with researchers from other fields. In addition, high school science teachers will be educated about various issues related to LC phases that are so ubiquitous in nature.%%%Surfaces and surface energetics play an important role in processes ranging from common wetting, to more sophisticated phenomena such as adhesion, liquid crystal alignment, surface memory effects, and non-coalescence of identical fluids. Empirical knowledge of surface phenomena has led to a number of technologically important applications such as the liquid crystal flat panel display (LCDs), smart glue used in medicine, and highly sensitive bio-sensors. Undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and high school teachers (during the summer) will acquire training in the use of advanced experimental techniques at local, national, and international facilities where they will also closely interact with scientists from different disciplines and countries. Because these materials research areas are of high interest to industry, the students trained on this NSF funded project will compete very effectively in the job market.

该项目主要研究液晶(LC)和固体衬底之间的界面，表现出各种行为，如取向润湿、扩散、记忆效应和锚定相变，靠近和远离主体相变。这项研究的目的是了解表面驱动现象，这些现象起源于有机材料和液晶界面的纳米级组织。实验技术，如掠入射同步X射线衍射，X射线反射率，原子力和共焦显微镜，以及光电测量，将被用来研究模型界面的纳米结构和结构转变，以确定底层界面纳米结构如何影响向列相液晶的锚定。研究生和博士后学者将接受使用尖端设施和仪器的培训，同时通过与其他领域的研究人员互动获得跨学科的科学知识。此外，高中科学教师还将学习与自然界中无处不在的LC相有关的各种问题。表面和表面能量学在从常见的润湿到更复杂的现象(如粘连、液晶取向、表面记忆效应和相同流体的不合并)的过程中发挥着重要作用。对表面现象的经验知识已经导致了许多重要的技术应用，如液晶平板显示器(LCD)、用于医学的智能胶水和高灵敏度的生物传感器。本科生和研究生、博士后学者和高中教师(在暑假期间)将在当地、国家和国际设施接受使用先进实验技术的培训，在那里他们还将与来自不同学科和国家的科学家密切互动。由于这些材料研究领域引起了业界的高度兴趣，接受过NSF资助项目培训的学生将在就业市场上非常有效地竞争。