Applications of Polar and Ferroelectric Nematics as Electrophoretic Fluids

铁电向列相流体的发现是软物质物理学中最令人兴奋的领域之一。长期以来，人们一直认为，液晶只形成偶极子平行或反平行概率相等的双相。指向矢实际上不是一个向量，而是一个伪向量：n = -n。但最近，规则手册不得不重写。2010年，Nagaraj发现了一个自发弯曲的超导态。2017年Mandle发现了具有自发展曲的a相，证明了它是铁电n不等于-n，因此我们有兴趣探索这类材料的应用。应该探索的想法是这些材料提供的非线性光学响应。这对于光通信中的超快电光调制器具有潜力。另一种途径是使用这些材料作为铁磁流体。铁电极化提供了有趣的效果，使液体响应电场而移动;一种铁电材料。这在移动的手机的可切换镜头、微流体致动器或超亮全彩反射显示器中可能很有用。

One of the most exciting areas in Soft Matter Physics is the recent discovery of Ferroelectric Nematic Fluids. It has long been believed that liquid crystals only form nematic phases with equal probability of dipoles parallel or anti-parallel. The director is not actually a vector but a pseudo-vector: n = -n. But recently, the rule books have had to be rewritten. This began in 2010 with the discovery by Nagaraj of a spontaneously bent nematic state. Then, in 2017, Mandle discovered the a phase with spontaneous splay, which proved to be ferroelectric n not equal to -n.So, we are interested to explore what the applications are for such materials. Ideas that should be explored are the Non-linear optical response offered by these materials. This has the potential for ultra-fast electro-optic modulators in optical communications. Another avenue is the use of the materials as ferro-fluids. The ferroelectric polarization offers interesting effects for moving liquids around in response to electric fields; a sort of ferro-phoretic material. This could be useful in switchable lenses for your mobile phone, in micro-fluidic actuators, or perhaps in ultra bright full-colour reflective displays.