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Cristofaro S, Querciagrossa L, Soprani L, Fraccia TP, Bellini T, Berardi R, Arcioni A, Zannoni C, Muccioli L, Orlandi S. Simulating the Lyotropic Phase Behavior of a Partially Self-Complementary DNA Tetramer. Biomacromolecules 2024. [PMID: 38826125 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
DNA oligomers in solution have been found to develop liquid crystal phases via a hierarchical process that involves Watson-Crick base pairing, supramolecular assembly into columns of duplexes, and long-range ordering. The multiscale nature of this phenomenon makes it difficult to quantitatively describe and assess the importance of the various contributions, particularly for very short strands. We performed molecular dynamics simulations based on the coarse-grained oxDNA model, aiming to depict all of the assembly processes involved and the phase behavior of solutions of the DNA GCCG tetramers. We find good quantitative matching to experimental data at both levels of molecular association (thermal melting) and collective ordering (phase diagram). We characterize the isotropic state and the low-density nematic and high-density columnar liquid crystal phases in terms of molecular order, size of aggregates, and structure, together with their effects on diffusivity processes. We observe a cooperative aggregation mechanism in which the formation of dimers is less thermodynamically favored than the formation of longer aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cristofaro
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Lara Querciagrossa
- CINECA, Via Magnanelli 6/3, Casalecchio di Reno 40033, Italy
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Soprani
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Tommaso P Fraccia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università di Milano, Via Balzaretti 9, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Tommaso Bellini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, Milano 20129, Italy
| | - Roberto Berardi
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Alberto Arcioni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Luca Muccioli
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
| | - Silvia Orlandi
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale "Toso Montanari", Università di Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, Bologna 40136, Italy
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2
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Chen X, Fonseca I, Ravnik M, Slastikov V, Zannoni C, Zarnescu A. Topics in the mathematical design of materials. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2021; 379:20200108. [PMID: 34024134 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a perspective on several current research directions relevant to the mathematical design of new materials. We discuss: (i) design problems for phase-transforming and shape-morphing materials, (ii) epitaxy as an approach of central importance in the design of advanced semiconductor materials, (iii) selected design problems in soft matter, (iv) mathematical problems in magnetic materials, (v) some open problems in liquid crystals and soft materials and (vi) mathematical problems on liquid crystal colloids. The presentation combines topics from soft and hard condensed matter, with specific focus on those design themes where mathematical approaches could possibly lead to exciting progress. This article is part of the theme issue 'Topics in mathematical design of complex materials'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Chen
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Irene Fonseca
- Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Miha Ravnik
- University of Ljubljana, Jadranska, 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jozef Stefan Insitute, Jamova cesta, 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale 'Toso Montanari' and INSTM, Università di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento, 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
| | - Arghir Zarnescu
- BCAM, Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Alameda Mazarredo, 14 Bilbao 48009, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi, 5 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
- 'Simion Stoilow' Institute of the Romanian Academy, 21 Calea Grivitei, 010702 Bucharest, Romania
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3
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Wespiser C, Xu J, Soldera A. Atomistic simulation of the smectic a mesophase induced by halogen bond. J Mol Liq 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2020.113731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Vita F, Adamo FC, Pisani M, Francescangeli O. Nanostructure of Unconventional Liquid Crystals Investigated by Synchrotron Radiation. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 10:E1679. [PMID: 32859117 PMCID: PMC7558469 DOI: 10.3390/nano10091679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The macroscopic properties of novel liquid crystal (LC) systems-LCs with unconventional molecular structure as well as conventional LCs in unconventional geometries-directly descend from their mesoscopic structural organization. While X-ray diffraction (XRD) is an obvious choice to investigate their nanoscale structure, conventional diffractometry is often hampered by experimental difficulties: the low scattering power and short-range positional order of the materials, resulting in weak and diffuse diffraction features; the need to perform measurements in challenging conditions, e.g., under magnetic and/or electric fields, on thin films, or at high temperatures; and the necessity to probe micron-sized volumes to tell the local structural properties from their macroscopic average. Synchrotron XRD allows these problems to be circumvented thanks to the superior diffraction capabilities (brilliance, q-range, energy and space resolution) and advanced sample environment available at synchrotron beamlines. Here, we highlight the potentiality of synchrotron XRD in the field of LCs by reviewing a selection of experiments on three unconventional LC systems: the potentially biaxial and polar nematic phase of bent-core mesogens; the very high-temperature nematic phase of all-aromatic LCs; and polymer-dispersed liquid crystals. In all these cases, synchrotron XRD unveils subtle nanostructural features that are reflected into macroscopic properties of great interest from both fundamental and technological points of view.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Oriano Francescangeli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell’Ambiente ed Urbanistica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (F.V.); (F.C.A.); (M.P.)
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Sims MT, Abbott LC, Goodby JW, Moore JN. Shape segregation in molecular organisation: a combined X-ray scattering and molecular dynamics study of smectic liquid crystals. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:7722-7732. [PMID: 31509149 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01527b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Temperature-dependent X-ray scattering studies have been carried out on 4-undecyloxy-4'-cyanobiphenyl (11OCB) and 4-(12,12-dimethyltridecyloxy)-4'-cyanobiphenyl (t-Bu-11OCB) in the smectic A phase, from which their layer spacings and translational order parameters were obtained. Marked differences between the layer structures of the two compounds were demonstrated, showing that the addition of the t-Bu group results in a higher translational order parameter and wider layer spacing for t-Bu-11OCB than 11OCB. Fully atomistic MD simulations of both compounds run for >1000 ns demonstrated the spontaneous formation of smectic mesophases from isotropic starting geometries, and experimental trends in order parameters and absolute layer spacings were shown to be replicated well. Further analysis showed that both the aromatic head-groups and the alkyl tail-groups exhibit interdigitation in the simulated smectic phases of both compounds, and the difference in the layer structures between 11OCB and t-Bu-11OCB could be attributed mainly to a shape segregation effect arising from the addition of the bulky t-Bu end-group to the alkyl chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark T Sims
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Laurence C Abbott
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - John W Goodby
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - John N Moore
- Department of Chemistry, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Allen
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- H. H. Wills Physics Laboratory, Royal Fort, Bristol, UK
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Boyd NJ, Wilson MR. Validating an optimized GAFF force field for liquid crystals: TNI predictions for bent-core mesogens and the first atomistic predictions of a dark conglomerate phase. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:1485-1496. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cp07496d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Atomistic simulations of bent core mesogens provide excellent TNI predictions and show the formation of a dark conglomerate phase.
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Palczynski K, Herrmann P, Heimel G, Dzubiella J. Characterization of step-edge barrier crossing of para-sexiphenyl on the ZnO (101[combining macron]0) surface. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:25329-25341. [PMID: 27711631 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp05251g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Mass transport processes of conjugated organic molecules (COMs) on inorganic surfaces are essential elements in thin film deposition for hybrid optoelectronic devices. Defects and in particular surface step-edges dictate the molecular nucleation and growth morphology, which itself determine many physical properties of the resulting hybrid interface. Here, we explore the detailed molecular kinetics and transport rates of a single physisorbed para-sexiphenyl (p-6P) molecule crossing a step-edge (a "hetero-Ehrlich-Schwoebel barrier") on the inorganic ZnO (101[combining macron]0) surface by a combination of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations and passage time theory. We determine temperature- and charge-dependent (free) energy landscapes, position-dependent diffusion coefficients, and ultimately the mean first passage time over the step-edges. We find two completely different step-edge crossing mechanisms, the occurrence and rates of which simultaneously depend on both electrostatic and thermal molecule-surface coupling. In weakly coupled systems, the molecule crosses the step relatively quickly (in nanoseconds) by log-roll mechanisms while for strongly coupled systems, it crosses relatively slowly (in microseconds) in a strictly perpendicular fashion. In the latter process, "internal friction" from intramolecular bending and torsional degrees of freedom contribute a significant corrugation to the overall crossing barrier. Furthermore, we show that crossing pathways can also change qualitatively with step-edge height. The great complexity in hetero-barrier crossing of COMs (in contrast to simple atoms) revealed in this study has implications on the interpretation and possible control of nucleation and growth mechanisms at surface defects in hybrid systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Palczynski
- Institut für Weiche Materie und Funktionale Materialien, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany. and Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Herrmann
- Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Georg Heimel
- Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Institut für Weiche Materie und Funktionale Materialien, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany. and Institut für Physik, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstr. 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
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Vita F, Hegde M, Portale G, Bras W, Ferrero C, Samulski ET, Francescangeli O, Dingemans T. Molecular ordering in the high-temperature nematic phase of an all-aromatic liquid crystal. SOFT MATTER 2016; 12:2309-2314. [PMID: 26781457 DOI: 10.1039/c5sm02738a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We report the structural characterization of the nematic phase of 2,6-biphenyl naphthalene (PPNPP). This lath-like all-aromatic mesogen provides a valuable benchmark for classical theories of nematic order. PPNPP exhibits a very high temperature nematic phase (417-489 °C) above an enantiotropic smectic A phase. X-ray diffraction reveals a surprisingly strong tendency towards molecular layering in the nematic phase, indicative of "normal cybotaxis" (i.e. SmA-like stratification within clusters of mesogens). Although stronger at low temperatures, the layering is evident well above the smectic A-nematic transition. The nematic order parameter is evaluated as a function of temperature from the broadening of the wide-angle diffuse diffraction feature. Measured values of the orientational order parameter are slightly larger than those predicted by the Maier-Saupe theory over the entire nematic range except for a narrow region just below the clearing point where they significantly drop below the theoretical prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Vita
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell'Ambiente ed Urbanistica and CNISM, Università Politecnica della Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Maruti Hegde
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Giuseppe Portale
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), DUBBLE CRG at the ESRF, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Wim Bras
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), DUBBLE CRG at the ESRF, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Claudio Ferrero
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Boîte Postale 220, 38043 Grenoble Cedex, France
| | - Edward T Samulski
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3290, USA
| | - Oriano Francescangeli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Ingegneria della Materia, dell'Ambiente ed Urbanistica and CNISM, Università Politecnica della Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
| | - Theo Dingemans
- Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS Delft, The Netherlands.
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Orlandi S, Benini E, Miglioli I, Evans DR, Reshetnyak V, Zannoni C. Doping liquid crystals with nanoparticles. A computer simulation of the effects of nanoparticle shape. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:2428-41. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp05754j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Molecular-scale Monte Carlo simulations of liquid crystal-nanoparticle dispersions show the effect on the orientational order and on the clearing temperature of shape and concentration of the dopant nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Orlandi
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Erika Benini
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Isabella Miglioli
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Dean R. Evans
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Materials and Manufacturing Directorate
- Ohio 45433
- USA
| | | | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
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11
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Heinemann T, Palczynski K, Dzubiella J, Klapp SHL. Coarse-grained electrostatic interactions of coronene: Towards the crystalline phase. J Chem Phys 2015; 143:174110. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4935063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Heinemann
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Karol Palczynski
- Institut für Physik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Weiche Materie und Funktionale Materialen, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Joachim Dzubiella
- Institut für Physik, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Newtonstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Weiche Materie und Funktionale Materialen, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner Platz 1, 14109 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sabine H. L. Klapp
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany
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12
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Moral M, Son WJ, Sancho-García JC, Olivier Y, Muccioli L. Cost-Effective Force Field Tailored for Solid-Phase Simulations of OLED Materials. J Chem Theory Comput 2015; 11:3383-92. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.5b00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Moral
- Departamento
de Química Física, Universidad de Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain
| | - W.-J. Son
- Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, Suwon, 443-803 Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - J. C. Sancho-García
- Departamento
de Química Física, Universidad de Alicante, 03080 Alicante, Spain
| | - Y. Olivier
- Laboratory
for Chemistry of Novel Materials, University of Mons, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - L. Muccioli
- Department
of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, Italy
- Laboratoire
de Chimie des Polymères Organiques (LCPO), UMR 5629, University of Bordeaux, 33607 Pessac, France
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13
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Boyd NJ, Wilson MR. Optimization of the GAFF force field to describe liquid crystal molecules: the path to a dramatic improvement in transition temperature predictions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:24851-65. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp03702f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Systematic optimization of the General Amber Force Field (GAFF) for mesogenic fragments leads to a dramatic improvement in the modelling of liquid crystal clearing points.
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14
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Palermo MF, Muccioli L, Zannoni C. Molecular organization in freely suspended nano-thick 8CB smectic films. An atomistic simulation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:26149-59. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp04213e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Atomistic simulations of nano-thick free 8CB smectic films show the change of order across the film with temperature and thickness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Felice Palermo
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
| | - Luca Muccioli
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques
| | - Claudio Zannoni
- Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale “Toso Montanari” and INSTM
- Università di Bologna
- IT-40136 Bologna
- Italy
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Cinacchi G, Tani A. The isotropic–nematic phase transition in hard, slightly curved, lens-like particles. J Chem Phys 2014; 141:154901. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4897565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Cinacchi
- Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada and Instituto de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alessandro Tani
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Pisa, Via Risorgimento 35, I-56100 Pisa, Italy
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