Back to Search Start Over

Spontaneous radial liquid crystals alignment on curved polymeric surfaces

Authors :
Luciano De Sio
Nelson V. Tabiryan
Timothy J. Bunning
Source :
Applied Physics Letters. 104:221112
Publication Year :
2014
Publisher :
AIP Publishing, 2014.

Abstract

We report on the fabrication and characterization of curved periodic microstructures formed through the controlled phase separation of a liquid crystal and a polymerizing matrix comprising self-aligned liquid crystal. Imaging through a “Fresnel like” structure imparts an intensity profile onto a photosensitive mixture which subsequently forms periodic alternating curved polymeric and liquid crystal slices. The phase separated concentric rings of nematic liquid crystal self-align in a radial alignment in between the polymer walls as indicated by polarizing optical microscopy analysis (Maltese cross). Electro-optical experiments confirm the possibility to control this alignment and the optical properties of the macroscopic structure by means of a quite low external voltage. The system exhibits high-quality and self-alignment of an ordered (liquid crystal) fluid without the need of surface chemistry or functionalization.

Details

ISSN :
10773118 and 00036951
Volume :
104
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Applied Physics Letters
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....0cdfb9963284edb3e9e5a7ff16f9c447
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4881976