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Entropy-driven formation of chiral nematic phases by computer simulations

Author

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  • Simone Dussi

    (Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

  • Marjolein Dijkstra

    (Soft Condensed Matter, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University)

Abstract

Predicting the macroscopic chiral behaviour of liquid crystals from the microscopic chirality of the particles is highly non-trivial, even when the chiral interactions are purely entropic in nature. Here we introduce a novel chiral hard-particle model, namely particles with a twisted polyhedral shape and obtain a stable fully entropy-driven cholesteric phase by computer simulations. By slightly modifying the triangular base of the particle, we are able to switch from a left-handed prolate (calamitic) to a right-handed oblate (discotic) cholesteric phase using the same right-handed twisted particle model. Furthermore, we show that not only prolate and oblate chiral nematic phases, but also other novel entropy-driven phases, namely chiral blue phases, chiral nematic phases featuring both twist and splay deformations, chiral biaxial nematic phases with one of the axes twisted, can be obtained by varying particle biaxiality and chirality. Our results allow to identify general guidelines for the stabilization of these phases.

Suggested Citation

  • Simone Dussi & Marjolein Dijkstra, 2016. "Entropy-driven formation of chiral nematic phases by computer simulations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11175
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11175
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas G. Parton & Richard M. Parker & Gea T. Kerkhof & Aurimas Narkevicius & Johannes S. Haataja & Bruno Frka-Petesic & Silvia Vignolini, 2022. "Chiral self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals is driven by crystallite bundles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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