Fluid Phases of Bent-Core Molecules - Novel Physics and Applications

技术摘要：本合作项目将研究新型弯曲型液晶材料（BCNs）的结构和性能，以期开发用于向列相液晶机电应用的新材料。该项目的具体研究目标和科学效益是确认由弯曲核液晶分子簇组成的预测新物质状态的存在，研究电极化和机械畸变之间意外大耦合的起源和限制，包括机电效应和电流体动力学不稳定性，以及利用分子设计开发新的响应性和可调的橡胶聚合物，这些聚合物由有序的，bent-core分子。摘要本课题为液晶技术应用的重大进展提供了前景。两个例子是基于BCN弹性体增强柔性电的低成本、可穿戴（或潜在的生物植入）发电机，以及具有流体（向列相）处理优势的极性电光开关。与肯特州立大学液晶研究所广泛的工业合作伙伴关系将确保知识转移到工业的高可能性，最终将为美国经济带来重大利益。教育项目有一个独特的重点，即培养博士生在创业环境中成为有效的技术人员，并成功解决知识产权的复杂性是至关重要的。来自俄亥俄州小型学院和传统上代表性不足的学校的本科生将在学年或夏季期间接受长达10周的前沿研究。这些学生将有充分的机会参与研究项目和使用现有的设施，他们将与研究生密切互动。为美国本科生提供机会，让他们密切参与这里提出的尖端研究，是说服年轻人从事科学事业的主要因素之一。

Technical AbstractThis collaborative effort will investigate the structure and properties of novel bent-corenematics (BCNs) with a view toward new materials for electro-mechanical applications using nematic liquid crystals. The specific research objectives and scientific benefits of the project are to confirm the existence of predicted new states of matter composed of clusters of bent-core liquid crystal molecules, to study the origins and the limits of unexpected large coupling between electric polarization and mechanical distortion, including electromechanical effects and electrohydrodynamic instabilities, and to develop using molecular design new responsive and tunable rubbery polymers built up from ordered, bent-core molecules. Non-technical AbstractThis project offers the promise of significant advances in technological applications of liquid crystals. Two examples are low-cost, wearable (or potentially bio-implantable) electric generators based on enhanced flexoelectricity in BCN elastomers, and polar electro-optical switches with the processing advantages of a fluid (nematic) phase. Extensive industrial partnerships with the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University will assure a high probability for knowledge transfer to industry that should ultimately provide significant benefits to the U.S. economy. The education projects have a unique emphasis on training doctoral students to be effective technical personnel in an entrepreneurial environment and to successfully address the complexities of intellectual property are critical. Undergraduates from small colleges and traditionally under-represented schools in Ohio will be introduced to cutting-edge research over periods of up to 10 weeks during either the academic year or summer. These students will have full access to the research projects and to available facilities, and they will interact closely with the graduate students. Providing opportunities for American undergraduate students to be intimately involved in the type of cutting-edge research proposed here is one of the main factors in convincing young people to pursue a career in the sciences.