U.S.-Slovenia Materials Research on Orientational Phenomena in Homeotropic Liquid Crystal Films

INT 9815313CrawfordBrown大学的Gregory Crawford和卢布尔雅那大学的Slobodan Zumer合作的这项美国-斯洛文尼亚研究项目研究了微孔和薄膜中的顺势排列的液晶。肯特州立大学的Daniele Finotello也将做出贡献。他们的目标是1)探索液晶取向表面自组装层背后的基本物理化学性质，2)建立取向层可以被修饰和操纵以影响液晶取向方向的方法。研究人员打算通过使用磁共振技术来探测取向层和液晶，来研究具有同向性边界条件的构型的表面诱导有序性。这将允许直接研究向列相和各向同性相中取向层的有序性。他们的方法将是选择性地将对取向层有用的氚分子连接到具有适当表面体积比的多孔膜的壁上，以进行磁共振实验。此外，还将采用微量热法和光学技术。这一固态化学项目通过使美国和中欧的专家能够结合互补的人才，并在具有强烈共同兴趣和能力的领域共享研究资源，实现了促进科学知识的计划目标。

INT 9815313CrawfordThis U.S.-Slovene research project between Gregory Crawford of Brown University and Slobodan Zumer of the University of Ljubljana examines homeotropically-aligned liquid crystals in micropores and thin films. Daniele Finotello of Kent State University will also contribute. Their objectives are to 1) explore the fundamental physical chemical properties behind self assembled layers on surfaces for liquid crystal alignment and 2) establish ways in which the aligning layers can be modified and manipulated to influence the liquid crystal alignment directions.The researchers intend to investigate the surface induced ordering for configurations with homeotropic boundary conditions by using magnetic resonance techniques to probe alignment layers and the liquid crystal. This will permit direct investigation of the ordering of the alignment layer in both nematic and isotropic phase. Their approach will be to selectively deuterate molecules useful in alignment layers and attach them to the walls of porous membranes possessing the appropriate surface-to-volume ratio for magnetic resonance experiments. Additional microcalorimetry and optical techniques will be employed. Results should improve our fundamental understanding of ordering in these systems and may be applicable in novel flat liquid crystal display devices.This project in solid state chemistry fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling experts in the United States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and share research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.