Dynamics, Transport, and Ordering of Inclusions in Liquid Crystals

液晶中夹杂物的动力学、输运和有序化

• 批准号: 1207117
• 负责人: Robert Leheny
• 金额: $ 40.5万
• 依托单位: Johns Hopkins University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-07-01 至 2016-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1207117&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dynamics; Transport; Ordering; Inclusions; Liquid

****Technical Abstract****The study of inclusions suspended in liquid crystals can lead to important new insight about the viscoelastic and interfacial properties of these materials and can further create novel platforms for the manipulation and self-assembly of particles through unique anisotropic interactions engendered by the fluids. In addition, particle-dispersed liquid crystals hold technological promise as composite materials with enhanced properties deriving from the coupling of the particles to the liquid crystalline order. This work aims to advance substantially our fundamental understanding of and control over the behavior of inclusions in liquid crystals by investigating several promising new classes of systems and particle interactions. Among the specific topics on which the research will focus include nanoparticle dispersions in smectic liquid crystals, particle- and defect-laden nematics flowing in microfluidic arrays, and anisotropic transport of particles and ions in liquid crystals. The broader impacts of the project will include research training and education for graduate and undergraduate students in physics that will prepare them for careers in academia and industry. The project will also enable continuation and expansion of a partnership with a local science magnet high school to provide talented Baltimore City students with opportunities for research internships.****Non-Technical Abstract****Liquid crystals are fluids composed of rod-shaped molecules in which the molecules arrange themselves to be more ordered than in an ordinary liquid but less so than in a crystalline solid. Examples include nematic liquid crystals where the molecules orient along a common direction and smectic liquid crystals where the molecules form layers. When an impurity like a small particle is suspended in such a fluid, it can disrupt this order leading to novel effects, such as the spontaneous assembly of the particles into patterns or the deflection of particles away from a force causing them to move. The impurities can also endow the fluids with enhanced material characteristics, such as unique optical and magnetic properties. This project will investigate experimentally several classes of inclusions in liquid crystals, including nanometer-scale particles and molecules that carry electrical current, which promise potentially significant impact on research and technology but which have been the subject of little previous study. The broader impacts of the project will include research training and education for graduate and undergraduate students in physics that will prepare them for careers in academia and industry. The project will also enable continuation and expansion of a partnership with a local science magnet high school to provide talented Baltimore City students with opportunities for research internships.

* 技术摘要 * 悬浮在液晶中的内含物的研究可以导致关于这些材料的粘弹性和界面性质的重要新见解，并且可以通过由流体产生的独特的各向异性相互作用进一步创建用于操纵和自组装颗粒的新平台。 此外，颗粒分散液晶作为具有源自颗粒与液晶有序的耦合的增强性质的复合材料具有技术前景。 这项工作的目的是通过研究几种有前途的新类型的系统和粒子相互作用，大大提高我们对液晶中夹杂物行为的基本理解和控制。 在研究的具体课题将集中在包括纳米粒子在近晶型液晶分散，颗粒和缺陷负载向列流在微流体阵列，和各向异性传输的粒子和离子在液晶。 该项目的更广泛影响将包括研究生和本科生的物理学研究培训和教育，这将为他们在学术界和工业界的职业生涯做好准备。 该项目还将继续和扩大与当地科学磁铁高中的伙伴关系，为有才华的巴尔的摩市学生提供研究实习的机会。非技术摘要 * 液晶是由棒状分子组成的流体，其中分子排列本身比普通液体更有序，但不如结晶固体。 实例包括其中分子沿沿着共同方向取向的双晶型液晶和其中分子形成层的近晶型液晶。 当像小颗粒这样的杂质悬浮在这样的流体中时，它可以破坏这种秩序，导致新的效果，例如粒子自发组装成图案或粒子偏离使它们移动的力。 杂质还可以赋予流体增强的材料特性，例如独特的光学和磁性。 该项目将通过实验研究液晶中的几类内含物，包括纳米级颗粒和携带电流的分子，这些颗粒和分子有望对研究和技术产生潜在的重大影响，但以前很少有研究。 该项目的更广泛影响将包括研究生和本科生的物理学研究培训和教育，这将为他们在学术界和工业界的职业生涯做好准备。 该项目还将继续和扩大与当地科学磁铁高中的伙伴关系，为有才华的巴尔的摩市学生提供研究实习的机会。