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Katayama K, Yoshimura T, Yamashita S, Teratani H, Murakami T, Suzuki H, Fukuda JI. Formation of topological defects at liquid/liquid crystal interfaces in micro-wells controlled by surfactants and light. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:6578-6588. [PMID: 37603438 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00838j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Topological defects, the fundamental entities arising from symmetry-breaking, have captivated the attention of physicists, mathematicians, and materials scientists for decades. Here we propose and demonstrate a novel method for robust control of topological defects in a liquid crystal (LC), an ideal testbed for the investigation of topological defects. A liquid layer is introduced on the LC in microwells in a microfluidic device. The liquid/LC interface facilitates the control of the LC alignment thereby introducing different molecules in the liquid/LC phase. A topological defect is robustly formed in a microwell when the liquid/LC interface and the microwell surface impose planar and homeotropic alignment, respectively. We also demonstrate the formation/disappearance of topological defects by light illumination, realized by dissolving photo-responsive molecules in the LC. Our platform that facilitates the control of LC topological defects by the introduction of different molecules and external stimuli could have potential for sensor applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Katayama
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Takuro Yoshimura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Saki Yamashita
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan.
| | - Hiroto Teratani
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Tomoki Murakami
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Suzuki
- Department of Precision Mechanics, Chuo University, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Fukuda
- Department of Physics, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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Role of Stimuli on Liquid Crystalline Defects: From Defect Engineering to Switchable Functional Materials. MATERIALS 2020; 13:ma13235466. [PMID: 33266312 PMCID: PMC7729749 DOI: 10.3390/ma13235466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Achieving tunable physical properties is currently one of the most exciting research topics. In order to realize this goal, a medium that is responsive to external stimuli and can undergo a change in its physical property is required. Liquid crystal (LC) is a prominent candidate, as its physical and optical properties can be easily manipulated with various stimuli, such as surface anchoring, rubbing, geometric confinement, and external fields. Having broken away from the past devotion to obtaining a uniform domain of LCs, people are now putting significant efforts toward forming and manipulating ordered and oriented defect structures with a unique arrangement within. The complicated molecular order with tunability would benefit the interdisciplinary research fields of optics, physics, photonics, and materials science. In this review, the recent progress toward defect engineering in the nematic and smectic phases by controlling the surface environment and electric field and their combinational methods is introduced. We close the review with a discussion of the possible applications enabled using LC defect structures as switchable materials.
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Shin MJ, Gim MJ, Yoon DK. Directed Self-Assembly of Topological Defects of Liquid Crystals. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:2551-2556. [PMID: 29368930 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b04216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the alluring aspects of liquid crystals (LCs) is their readily controllable self-assembly behavior, leading to comprehension of complex topological structures and practical patterning applications. Here, we report on manipulating various kinds of topological defects by adopting an imprinted polymer-based soft microchannel that simultaneously imposes adjustable surface anchoring, confinement, and uniaxial alignment. Distinctive molecular orientation could be achieved by varying the surface anchoring conditions at the sidewall polymer and the rubbing directions on the bottom layer. On this pioneering platform, a common LC material, 8CB (4'-n-octyl-4-cyano-biphenyl), was placed where various topological defect domains were generated in a periodic arrangement. The experimental results showed that our platform can change the packing behavior and even the shape of topological defects by varying the rubbing condition. We believe that this facile tool to modulate surface boundary conditions combined with topographic confinement can open a way to use LC materials in potential optical and patterning applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Jeong Shin
- Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC and ‡Department of Chemistry, KAIST , Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Min-Jun Gim
- Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC and ‡Department of Chemistry, KAIST , Daejeon 34141, Korea
| | - Dong Ki Yoon
- Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC and ‡Department of Chemistry, KAIST , Daejeon 34141, Korea
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Ma LL, Tang MJ, Hu W, Cui ZQ, Ge SJ, Chen P, Chen LJ, Qian H, Chi LF, Lu YQ. Smectic Layer Origami via Preprogrammed Photoalignment. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1606671. [PMID: 28185330 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201606671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Hierarchical architecture is of vital importance in soft materials. Focal conic domains (FCDs) of smectic liquid crystals, characterized by an ordered lamellar structure, attract intensive attention. Simultaneously tailoring the geometry and clustering characteristics of FCDs remains a challenge. Here, the 3D smectic layer origami via a 2D preprogrammed photoalignment film is accomplished. Full control of hierarchical superstructures is demonstrated, including the domain size, shape, and orientation, and the lattice symmetry of fragmented toric FCDs. The unique symmetry breaking of resultant superstructures combined with the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystals induces an intriguing polarization-dependent diffraction. This work broadens the scientific understanding of self-assembled soft materials and may inspire new opportunities for advanced functional materials and devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ling Ma
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Ming-Jie Tang
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Wei Hu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Ze-Qun Cui
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Shi-Jun Ge
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Peng Chen
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Lu-Jian Chen
- Department of Electronic Engineering, School of Information Science and Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Hao Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Materials Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Li-Feng Chi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Yan-Qing Lu
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures and College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China
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Honglawan A, Yang S. Directing 3D Topological Defects in Smectic Liquid Crystals and Their Applications as an Emerging Class of Building Blocks. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-04867-3_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
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Kim A, Jang KS, Kim J, Won JC, Yi MH, Kim H, Yoon DK, Shin TJ, Lee MH, Ka JW, Kim YH. Solvent-free directed patterning of a highly ordered liquid crystalline organic semiconductor via template-assisted self-assembly for organic transistors. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2013; 25:6219-25. [PMID: 23963897 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201302719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Highly ordered organic semiconductor micropatterns of the liquid-crystalline small molecule 2,7-didecylbenzothienobenzothiophene (C10 -BTBT) are fabricated using a simple method based on template-assisted self-assembly (TASA). The liquid crystallinity of C10 -BTBT allows solvent-free fabrication of high-performance printed organic field-effect transistors (OFETs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryeon Kim
- Advanced Functional Materials Research Group, KRICT, Daejeon, 305-600, Korea
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Kim JH, Kim YH, Jeong HS, Srinivasarao M, Hudson SD, Jung HT. Thermally responsive microlens arrays fabricated with the use of defect arrays in a smectic liquid crystal. RSC Adv 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2ra20561k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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