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Spontaneous symmetry breaking in polar fluids

Author

Listed:
  • Calum J. Gibb

    (University of Leeds)

  • Jordan Hobbs

    (University of Leeds)

  • Diana I. Nikolova

    (University of Leeds)

  • Thomas Raistrick

    (University of Leeds)

  • Stuart R. Berrow

    (University of Leeds)

  • Alenka Mertelj

    (Jožef Stefan Institute)

  • Natan Osterman

    (Jožef Stefan Institute
    Faculty of Mathematics and Physics)

  • Nerea Sebastián

    (Jožef Stefan Institute)

  • Helen F. Gleeson

    (University of Leeds)

  • Richard. J. Mandle

    (University of Leeds
    University of Leeds)

Abstract

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and emergent polar order are each of fundamental importance to a range of scientific disciplines, as well as generating rich phase behaviour in liquid crystals (LCs). Here, we show the union of these phenomena to lead to two previously undiscovered polar liquid states of matter. Both phases have a lamellar structure with an inherent polar ordering of their constituent molecules. The first of these phases is characterised by polar order and a local tilted structure; the tilt direction processes about a helix orthogonal to the layer normal, the period of which is such that we observe selective reflection of light. The second new phase type is anti-ferroelectric, with the constituent molecules aligning orthogonally to the layer normal. This has led us to term the phases the $${{{{{\rm{Sm}}}}}}{{{{{{\rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{\rm{P}}}}}}}^{{{{{{\rm{H}}}}}}}$$ Sm C P H and SmAAF phases, respectively. Further to this, we obtain room temperature ferroelectric nematic (NF) and $${{{{{\rm{Sm}}}}}}{{{{{{\rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{\rm{P}}}}}}}^{{{{{{\rm{H}}}}}}}$$ Sm C P H phases via binary mixture formulation of the novel materials described here with a standard NF compound (DIO), with the resultant materials having melting points (and/or glass transitions) which are significantly below ambient temperature. The new soft matter phase types discovered herein can be considered as electrical analogues of topological structures of magnetic spins in hard matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Calum J. Gibb & Jordan Hobbs & Diana I. Nikolova & Thomas Raistrick & Stuart R. Berrow & Alenka Mertelj & Natan Osterman & Nerea Sebastián & Helen F. Gleeson & Richard. J. Mandle, 2024. "Spontaneous symmetry breaking in polar fluids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50230-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50230-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zhaocun Shen & Yutao Sang & Tianyu Wang & Jian Jiang & Yan Meng & Yuqian Jiang & Kou Okuro & Takuzo Aida & Minghua Liu, 2019. "Asymmetric catalysis mediated by a mirror symmetry-broken helical nanoribbon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Ramakrishna Kotni & Albert Grau-Carbonell & Massimiliano Chiappini & Marjolein Dijkstra & Alfons Blaaderen, 2022. "Splay-bend nematic phases of bent colloidal silica rods induced by polydispersity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Jordan P. Abberley & Ross Killah & Rebecca Walker & John M. D. Storey & Corrie T. Imrie & Mirosław Salamończyk & Chenhui Zhu & Ewa Gorecka & Damian Pociecha, 2018. "Heliconical smectic phases formed by achiral molecules," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
    4. Sithara P. Sreenilayam & Yuri P. Panarin & Jagdish K. Vij & Vitaly P. Panov & Anne Lehmann & Marco Poppe & Marko Prehm & Carsten Tschierske, 2016. "Spontaneous helix formation in non-chiral bent-core liquid crystals with fast linear electro-optic effect," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, September.
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