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Budkov YA, Kalikin NN, Brandyshev PE. Surface tension of aqueous electrolyte solutions. A thermomechanical approach. J Chem Phys 2024; 160:164701. [PMID: 38647306 DOI: 10.1063/5.0191937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We determine the surface tension of aqueous electrolyte solutions in contact with non-polar dielectric media using a thermomechanical approach, which involves deriving the stress tensor from the thermodynamic potential of an inhomogeneous fluid. To obtain the surface tension, we calculate both the normal and tangential pressures using the components of the stress tensor, recently derived by us [Y. A. Budkov and P. E. Brandyshev, J. Chem. Phys. 159, 174103 (2023)] within the framework of Wang's variational field theory. Using this approach, we derive an analytical expression for the surface tension in the linear approximation. At low ionic concentrations, this expression represents the classical Onsager-Samaras limiting law. By utilizing only one fitting parameter, which is related to the affinity of anions to the dielectric boundary, we successfully approximated experimental data on the surface tension of several aqueous electrolyte solutions. This approximation applies to both the solution-air and solution-dodecane interfaces, covering a wide range of electrolyte concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury A Budkov
- Laboratory of Computational Physics, HSE University, Tallinskaya St. 34, 123458 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Multiscale Modeling of Molecular Systems, G.A. Krestov Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 153045, Akademicheskaya St. 1, Ivanovo, Russia
- A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071, 31 Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolai N Kalikin
- Laboratory of Computational Physics, HSE University, Tallinskaya St. 34, 123458 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Multiscale Modeling of Molecular Systems, G.A. Krestov Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 153045, Akademicheskaya St. 1, Ivanovo, Russia
| | - Petr E Brandyshev
- Laboratory of Computational Physics, HSE University, Tallinskaya St. 34, 123458 Moscow, Russia
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Money J, Munguia-Fernández JG, Norouzi S, Esmaeili M, Martínez-González JA, Sadati M. Photonic features of blue phase liquid crystals under curved confinement. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12231-12247. [PMID: 37750291 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03284a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Blue phase (BP) liquid crystals represent a fascinating state of soft matter that showcases unique optical and electro-optical properties. Existing between chiral nematic and isotropic phases, BPs are characterized by a three-dimensional cubic lattice structure resulting in selective Bragg reflections of light and consequent vivid structural colors. However, the practical realization of these material systems is hampered by their narrow thermal stability and multi-domain crystalline nature. This feature article provides an overview of the efforts devoted to stabilizing these phases and creating monodomain structures. In particular, it delves into the complex relationship between geometrical confinement, induced curvature, and the structural stability and photonic features of BPs. Understanding the interaction of curved confinement and structural stability of BPs proves crucially important for the integration of these materials into flexible and miniaturized devices. By shedding light on these critical aspects, this feature review aims to highlight the significance of understanding the coupling effects of physical and mechanical forces on the structural stability of these systems, which can pave the way for the development of efficient and practical devices based on BP liquid crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Money
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - Juan G Munguia-Fernández
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, SLP, México
| | - Sepideh Norouzi
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - Mohsen Esmaeili
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
| | - José A Martínez-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Parque Chapultepec 1570, San Luis Potosí 78210, SLP, México
| | - Monirosadat Sadati
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA.
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Scott HL, Bolmatov D, Premadasa UI, Doughty B, Carrillo JMY, Sacci RL, Lavrentovich M, Katsaras J, Collier CP. Cations Control Lipid Bilayer Memcapacitance Associated with Long-Term Potentiation. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:44533-44540. [PMID: 37696028 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c09056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Phospholipid bilayers can be described as capacitors whose capacitance per unit area (specific capacitance, Cm) is determined by their thickness and dielectric constant─independent of applied voltage. It is also widely assumed that the Cm of membranes can be treated as a "biological constant". Recently, using droplet interface bilayers (DIBs), it was shown that zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipid bilayers can act as voltage-dependent, nonlinear memory capacitors, or memcapacitors. When exposed to an electrical "training" stimulation protocol, capacitive energy storage in lipid membranes was enhanced in the form of long-term potentiation (LTP), which enables biological learning and long-term memory. LTP was the result of membrane restructuring and the progressive asymmetric distribution of ions across the lipid bilayer during training, which is analogous, for example, to exponential capacitive energy harvesting from self-powered nanogenerators. Here, we describe how LTP could be produced from a membrane that is continuously pumped into a nonequilibrium steady state, altering its dielectric properties. During this time, the membrane undergoes static and dynamic changes that are fed back to the system's potential energy, ultimately resulting in a membrane whose modified molecular structure supports long-term memory storage and LTP. We also show that LTP is very sensitive to different salts (KCl, NaCl, LiCl, and TmCl3), with LiCl and TmCl3 having the most profound effect in depressing LTP, relative to KCl. This effect is related to how the different cations interact with the bilayer zwitterionic PC lipid headgroups primarily through electric-field-induced changes to the statistically averaged orientations of water dipoles at the bilayer headgroup interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haden L Scott
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Dima Bolmatov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Uvinduni I Premadasa
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Benjamin Doughty
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Jan-Michael Y Carrillo
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Robert L Sacci
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Maxim Lavrentovich
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - John Katsaras
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Charles P Collier
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
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Liquid Crystal Droplet-Based Biosensors: Promising for Point-of-Care Testing. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12090758. [PMID: 36140143 PMCID: PMC9496589 DOI: 10.3390/bios12090758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The development of biosensing platforms has been impressively accelerated by advancements in liquid crystal (LC) technology. High response rate, easy operation, and good stability of the LC droplet-based biosensors are all benefits of the long-range order of LC molecules. Bioprobes emerged when LC droplets were combined with biotechnology, and these bioprobes are used extensively for disease diagnosis, food safety, and environmental monitoring. The LC droplet biosensors have high sensitivity and excellent selectivity, making them an attractive tool for the label-free, economical, and real-time detection of different targets. Portable devices work well as the accessory kits for LC droplet-based biosensors to make them easier to use by anyone for on-site monitoring of targets. Herein, we offer a review of the latest developments in the design of LC droplet-based biosensors for qualitative target monitoring and quantitative target analysis.
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Landstorfer M, Müller R. Thermodynamic models for a concentration and electric field dependent susceptibility in liquid electrolytes. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Electronic to ionic transduction of the electric field applied to PEDOT:PSS substrates to the cell cultures on top. Bioelectrochemistry 2022; 145:108099. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2022.108099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Thakur S, Dasmahapatra AK, Bandyopadhyay D. Self-Organized Liquid Crystal Droplets as Phototunable Softmasks. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:60697-60712. [PMID: 34874157 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c21811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A single-step self-organized pathway is harnessed to generate large-area and high-density liquid-crystal (LC) microdroplets via rapid spreading of an LC-laden volatile liquid film on an aqueous surfactant bath. The surfactant loading on the water bath and LC loading in the solvent fluid help in tuning the size, periodicity, and ordering of LC microdroplets. Remarkably, the experiments reveal a transition from a spinodal to heterogeneous nucleation pathway of dewetting when the surfactant loading is modulated from below to beyond the critical micellar concentration in the aqueous phase. In the process, a host of unprecedented drop formation modes, such as dewetting and contact-line instability, random ejection, and "fire cracker" toroid splitting, have been uncovered. Subsequently, the LC microdroplets on the air-water interface are employed as photomasks suitable for soft-photolithography applications. Such masks help in the decoration of a host of mesoscale three-dimensional features on the films of photoresists when photons are guided through the LC droplets. In such a scenario, phase transition of LC droplets under solvent vapor annealing is employed to control the movement of photons through drops and subsequently modulate the light exposure on the photoresist surface. Such a simple soft-photolithography setup leads to an array of flattened droplets on a positive resist, while donut features are observed on the negative tone. Remarkably, the orientation of nematogens within 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl droplets and at the three-phase contact-line provides additional handles in controlling the transmission of photons, which facilitates such a unique pattern formation. A number of low-cost and simple strategies are also discussed to order such soft-photolithography patterns. Importantly, with a minor modification to the same experimental setup, we could also measure the variation in the order parameter of the LC droplet during its phase transitions from the nematic to isotropic state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddharth Thakur
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Ashok Kumar Dasmahapatra
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Dipankar Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
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Gongadze E, Mesarec L, Kralj S, Kralj-Iglič V, Iglič A. On the Role of Electrostatic Repulsion in Topological Defect-Driven Membrane Fission. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11110812. [PMID: 34832041 PMCID: PMC8619715 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11110812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Within a modified Langevin Poisson–Boltzmann model of electric double layers, we derived an analytical expression for osmotic pressure between two charged surfaces. The orientational ordering of the water dipoles as well as the space dependencies of electric potentials, electric fields, and osmotic pressure between two charged spheres were taken into account in the model. Thus, we were able to capture the interaction between the parent cell and connected daughter vesicle or the interactions between neighbouring beads in necklace-like membrane protrusions. The predicted repulsion between them can facilitate the topological antidefect-driven fission of membrane daughter vesicles and the fission of beads of undulated membrane protrusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Gongadze
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Luka Mesarec
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Samo Kralj
- Condensed Matter Physics Department, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglič
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Aleš Iglič
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (L.M.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-1-4768-825
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Raval J, Gongadze E, Benčina M, Junkar I, Rawat N, Mesarec L, Kralj-Iglič V, Góźdź W, Iglič A. Mechanical and Electrical Interaction of Biological Membranes with Nanoparticles and Nanostructured Surfaces. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11070533. [PMID: 34357183 PMCID: PMC8307671 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11070533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In this review paper, we theoretically explain the origin of electrostatic interactions between lipid bilayers and charged solid surfaces using a statistical mechanics approach, where the orientational degree of freedom of lipid head groups and the orientational ordering of the water dipoles are considered. Within the modified Langevin Poisson–Boltzmann model of an electric double layer, we derived an analytical expression for the osmotic pressure between the planar zwitterionic lipid bilayer and charged solid planar surface. We also show that the electrostatic interaction between the zwitterionic lipid head groups of the proximal leaflet and the negatively charged solid surface is accompanied with a more perpendicular average orientation of the lipid head-groups. We further highlight the important role of the surfaces’ nanostructured topography in their interactions with biological material. As an example of nanostructured surfaces, we describe the synthesis of TiO2 nanotubular and octahedral surfaces by using the electrochemical anodization method and hydrothermal method, respectively. The physical and chemical properties of these nanostructured surfaces are described in order to elucidate the influence of the surface topography and other physical properties on the behavior of human cells adhered to TiO2 nanostructured surfaces. In the last part of the paper, we theoretically explain the interplay of elastic and adhesive contributions to the adsorption of lipid vesicles on the solid surfaces. We show the numerically predicted shapes of adhered lipid vesicles corresponding to the minimum of the membrane free energy to describe the influence of the vesicle size, bending modulus, and adhesion strength on the adhesion of lipid vesicles on solid charged surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeel Raval
- Group of Physical Chemistry of Complex Systems, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland; (J.R.); (W.G.)
| | - Ekaterina Gongadze
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (N.R.); (L.M.)
| | - Metka Benčina
- Department of Surface Engineering and Optoelectronics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.J.)
| | - Ita Junkar
- Department of Surface Engineering and Optoelectronics, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.B.); (I.J.)
| | - Niharika Rawat
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (N.R.); (L.M.)
| | - Luka Mesarec
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (N.R.); (L.M.)
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglič
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Wojciech Góźdź
- Group of Physical Chemistry of Complex Systems, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 01-224 Warsaw, Poland; (J.R.); (W.G.)
| | - Aleš Iglič
- Laboratory of Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (E.G.); (N.R.); (L.M.)
- Laboratory of Clinical Biophysics, Chair of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +386-1-4768-825
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Drab M, Gongadze E, Kralj-Iglič V, Iglič A. Electric Double Layer and Orientational Ordering of Water Dipoles in Narrow Channels within a Modified Langevin Poisson-Boltzmann Model. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 22:E1054. [PMID: 33286823 PMCID: PMC7597128 DOI: 10.3390/e22091054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The electric double layer (EDL) is an important phenomenon that arises in systems where a charged surface comes into contact with an electrolyte solution. In this work we describe the generalization of classic Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) theory for point-like ions by taking into account orientational ordering of water molecules. The modified Langevin Poisson-Boltzmann (LPB) model of EDL is derived by minimizing the corresponding Helmholtz free energy functional, which includes also orientational entropy contribution of water dipoles. The formation of EDL is important in many artificial and biological systems bound by a cylindrical geometry. We therefore numerically solve the modified LPB equation in cylindrical coordinates, determining the spatial dependencies of electric potential, relative permittivity and average orientations of water dipoles within charged tubes of different radii. Results show that for tubes of a large radius, macroscopic (net) volume charge density of coions and counterions is zero at the geometrical axis. This is attributed to effective electrolyte charge screening in the vicinity of the inner charged surface of the tube. For tubes of small radii, the screening region extends into the whole inner space of the tube, leading to non-zero net volume charge density and non-zero orientational ordering of water dipoles near the axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitja Drab
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška Cesta 25, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Ekaterina Gongadze
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška Cesta 25, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (E.G.)
| | - Veronika Kralj-Iglič
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Zdravstvena Pot 5, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Aleš Iglič
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Tržaška Cesta 25, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.D.); (E.G.)
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Sofi JA, Barthakur A, Dhara S. Whispering gallery mode lasing in mesomorphic liquid crystal microdroplets. SOFT MATTER 2019; 15:7832-7837. [PMID: 31528973 DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01132c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, investigation on the non-display applications of liquid crystals has increased considerably. One of the emerging applications is whispering gallery mode (WGM) lasing. Here, we report experimental studies on the morphology and WGM lasing in nematic (N), smectic-A (SmA) and smectic-C (SmC) microdroplets dispersed in a highly transparent and low refractive index perfluopolymer. The mesomorphic microdroplets, obtained by varying the temperature, exhibit radial director configuration. The SmA microdroplets are found to be highly stable and robust against mechanical stress compared to the N and SmC microdroplets. We study lasing properties such as intensity, threshold pump energy and linewidth, and show that overall the SmA microdroplets are superior to the N and SmC microdroplets. The experimental results are discussed based on the orientation of the dye molecules, director fluctuations and tilting at the interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid Ahmad Sofi
- School of Physics, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500046, India.
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