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

这项材料世界网络奖支持了一项手性/极性液晶的联合研究项目，该项目显示了快速模拟电光学活性，研究人员来自科罗拉多大学博尔德分校、瑞典查尔姆斯理工大学、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。研究的重点是奇异的手性和极性微晶：具有最快模拟液晶电光效应的“v形开关”微晶C；“de Vries”材料通过在近晶A相中扩展的分子倾斜关系表现出类似的行为；密切相关的“正圆锥”高倾斜反铁电体；以及具有极性近晶a相位的弯芯液晶，其只提供相位电光调制。该研究强调了这些新型液晶系统的结构-性能关系的基础研究，并对软材料科学的各个领域产生了影响。相应的材料开发将实现一系列新的应用，包括全息数据存储和投影，光束转向和手性检测。青年研究人员和教师的互访促进了文化多样性和参与者的专业发展。合作小组将分享和调整适当的推广材料，包括K-12科学丰富课程的模块。

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.