Nano structured guest-host surface polymer stabilized liquid crystals

表面相互作用在基础和应用物理、化学和生物学中起着至关重要的作用。特别重要的是表面取向分子相互作用，其允许例如液晶的取向和相应显示器的操作。 在本计画中，我们将探讨固液界面上分子间相互作用之协同性。特别的努力将致力于研究的“本地增强”的光，电和磁扭矩（应用于取向有序的分子系统）通过引入光敏，铁电或磁性纳米粒子和纳米棒/管的效果。这些纳米粒子与有机可聚合基质的相互作用将在聚合过程之前，期间和之后进行研究。使用可光聚合的液晶（所谓的“反应性介晶”）作为主体，应该允许我们利用纳米颗粒增强的扭矩来创建空间非均匀的各向异性表面状态和它们的固定通过聚合。这样的状态可以实现更高性能的显示模式（具有期望的预倾斜）或有机太阳能电池。因此，除了纯粹的科学兴趣（材料极化与尺寸的限制、取向相关性的局部增强、聚合降低扭矩下的角迁移率等）之外，预期的结果应该允许开发新型的无摩擦显示器制造平台，从而能够生产柔性的、高产率的和成本有效的显示器或其它（例如光伏）大规模取向的分子层。

Surface interactions play paramount role in fundamental and applied physics, chemistry and biology. Particularly important are surface orientational molecular interactions that allow, for example, the alignment of liquid crystals and the operation of corresponding displays. In the present project, we shall investigate the cooperative aspect of orientational molecular interactions at solid-liquid interfaces. Particular efforts will be devoted to the study of the effect of "local enhancement" of optical, electrical and magnetic torques (applied on orientationally ordered molecular systems) by the introduction of photosensitive, ferroelectric or magnetic nano particles and nano rods/tubes. Interactions of those nano particles with organic polymerizable matrices will be investigated before, during and after the polymerization process. The use of photo polymerizable liquid crystals (so called "reactive mesogens") as host should allow us to exploit the nano particle enhanced torque to create spatially non uniform anisotropic surface states and their fixing by polymerization. Such states could enable higher performance display modes (with desired pretilt) or organic solar cells. Thus, in addition to the pure scientific interest (limits of material polarization vs size, local enhancement of orientational correlation, polymerization reduced angular mobility under torque, etc.), the anticipated results should allow the development of a new type of rubbing-free display manufacturing platform, enabling thus the production of flexible, high yield and cost effective displays or other (e.g. photovoltaic) large scale oriented molecular layers.