U.S. - Slovenia Research on Nano- and Micro-Scale Templating of Liquid Crystalline Materials

这个由布朗大学的Gregory Crawford、肯特州立大学的Daniele Finotello和卢布尔雅那大学的Slobodan Zumer共同完成的美国-斯洛文尼亚研究项目研究了向列液晶的结构和排列，这些液晶被限制在从纳米到微观尺寸的模板中。各院校的博士后、研究生和本科生也将参加这个国际团队。该多学科研究计划涉及三个互补领域：1)利用预制模板的纳米级约束，2)光自扩散介导的模板，以及3)回流介导的模板。后两个领域是利用多束全息技术合成和表征由光自扩散产生的创新结构和捕捉由光聚合回流产生的不寻常结构的新推动力。一些实验技术将被应用于理解这些新结构的基础物理，包括核磁共振技术，光散射，电光学，以及理论和模拟。研究结果将提高我们对液晶的基本认识，以及它们在使用软凝聚材料的新兴纳米和微尺度技术中的潜在应用。这个纳米材料项目实现了推进科学知识的计划目标，使美国和中欧的专家能够结合互补的人才，并在共同感兴趣和有能力的领域分享研究资源。更广泛的影响包括通过在合作机构的工作，将美国和斯洛文尼亚的学生引入国际研究界，并直接参与项目的先进表征、建模和制造技术。

This U.S.-Slovene research project between Gregory Crawford of Brown University, Daniele Finotello of Kent State University, and Slobodan Zumer of the University of Ljubljana examines the structure and ordering of nematic liquid crystals confined to templates ranging from nano- to micro-sized dimensions. Postdoctoral fellows as well as graduate and undergraduate students from each institution will also participate on this international team. The multidisciplinary research plan involves three complementary areas: 1) nanoscale confinement utilizing prefabricated templates, 2) photo-self diffusion mediated templating, and 3) back-flow mediated templating. These latter two areas are a new thrust in synthesis and characterization of innovative structures created by photo-self-diffusion using multiple beam holography and the capturing of unusual structures created from back flow with photopolymerization. Several experimental techniques will be applied to understand the underpinning physics of these novel structures, including nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, light scattering, electro-optics, as well as theory and simulation. Results should improve our fundamental understanding of liquid crystals and their potential applications in emerging nano- and micro-scale technologies using soft condensed materials.This project in nanoscale materials 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. Broader impacts include the introduction of U.S. and Slovenian students to the international research community through work at partner institutions and direct involvement in the project's advanced characterization, modeling and fabrication techniques.