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Large-scale self-organization of reconfigurable topological defect networks in nematic liquid crystals

Author

Listed:
  • Yuji Sasaki

    (Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • V.S.R. Jampani

    (RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
    Present address: Physics & Materials Science Research Unit, 162a Avenue de la Faiencerie, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg)

  • Chiharu Tanaka

    (Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Nobutaka Sakurai

    (Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Shin Sakane

    (Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University)

  • Khoa V. Le

    (RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS)
    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan)

  • Fumito Araoka

    (RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS))

  • Hiroshi Orihara

    (Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University)

Abstract

Topological defects in nematic liquid crystals are ubiquitous. The defects are important in understanding the fundamental properties of the systems, as well as in practical applications, such as colloidal self-assembly, optical vortex generation and templates for molecular self-assembly. Usually, spatially and temporally stable defects require geometrical frustration imposed by surfaces; otherwise, the system relaxes because of the high cost of the elastic energy. So far, multiple defects are kept in bulk nematic liquid crystals by top-down lithographic techniques. In this work, we stabilize a large number of umbilical defects by doping with an ionic impurity. This method does not require pre-patterned surfaces. We demonstrate that molecular reorientation controlled by an AC voltage induces periodic density modulation of ions accumulated at an electrically insulating polymer interface, resulting in self-organization of a two-dimensional square array of umbilical defects that is reconfigurable and tunable.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuji Sasaki & V.S.R. Jampani & Chiharu Tanaka & Nobutaka Sakurai & Shin Sakane & Khoa V. Le & Fumito Araoka & Hiroshi Orihara, 2016. "Large-scale self-organization of reconfigurable topological defect networks in nematic liquid crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13238
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13238
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    Cited by:

    1. Clerc, Marcel G. & Gajardo-Pizarro, R., 2024. "Nullclines entanglement induced topological transitions in driven liquid crystal cells," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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