Materials World Network: Fundamental Science and Device Challenges of Chiral/Polar Liquid Crystals

材料世界网络奖支持科罗拉多大学博尔德分校、瑞典查尔默斯理工大学、德国斯图加特大学、加拿大女王大学和英国斯特拉斯克莱德大学的研究人员联合开展的关于手性/极性液晶显示快速模拟电光活动的研究项目。研究重点集中在奇异的手性和极性近晶：具有最快模拟液晶电光效应的V型开关近晶C；通过扩展的分子倾斜关联在近晶A相中表现出相似行为的“德弗里斯”材料；密切相关的“正圆锥”高倾斜反铁电体；以及具有极性近晶A相的弯芯液晶，提供纯相位电光调制。研究重点是这些新型液晶体系的结构-性质关系的基础研究，在软材料科学的各个领域都有分支。相应的材料开发将使一系列新的应用成为可能，包括全息数据存储和投影、光束转向和手性检测。初级研究人员和教职员工的互访促进了文化多样性和参与者的专业发展。伙伴小组将分享和改编适当的宣传材料，包括K-12科学强化课程的单元。

This Materials World Network award supports a joint research project on chiral/polar liquid crystals showing fast analog electrooptics activity between investigators at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, the University of Stuttgart, Germany, Queen's University, Canada, and the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom. The research focus is on exotic chiral and polar smectics: the "V-shaped switching" smectic C's with the most rapid analog liquid crystal electro-optic effects; the "de Vries" materials exhibiting analog behavior via extended molecular tilt correlations in the smectic A phase; the closely related "orthoconic" high-tilt antiferroelectrics; and bent-core liquid crystals with a polar smectic A phase that give phase-only electrooptic modulation.The research highlights fundamental studies of structure-property relationships of these novel liquid crystal systems, with ramifications for a variety of areas in soft materials science. The corresponding materials development will enable a range of novel applications, including holographic data storage and projection, beam steering, and chirality detection. Exchange visits of junior researchers and faculty promotes cultural diversity and the professional development of the participants. The partner groups will share and adapt appropriate outreach materials, including modules for K-12 science enrichment classes.