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Chiral nematic order in liquid crystals imposed by an engineered inorganic nanostructure

Author

Listed:
  • K. Robbie

    (University of Alberta
    Queen's University)

  • D. J. Broer

    (Philips Research Laboratories, Prof. Holstlaan 4)

  • M. J. Brett

    (University of Alberta)

Abstract

Control over the orientational order of liquid crystals (LCs) is critical to optical switching and display applications. Porous polymer networks have been used to influence the orientation of embedded chiral liquid crystals1, yielding for example reflective displays. Here we show that inorganic films with a porous structure engineered on the submicrometre scale by glancing-angle deposition2,3 can be used to control the orientation of LCs impregnated into the voids. The inorganic material contains helical columns that orient rod-like nematic LCs into a phase similar to a chiral nematic1,4 but with direct control of the local molecular arrangement (for example, the helical pitch) imposed by the inorganic microstructure. We also show that reactive LC molecules in this composite material can be crosslinked by photopolymerization while retaining the imposed structure.

Suggested Citation

  • K. Robbie & D. J. Broer & M. J. Brett, 1999. "Chiral nematic order in liquid crystals imposed by an engineered inorganic nanostructure," Nature, Nature, vol. 399(6738), pages 764-766, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:399:y:1999:i:6738:d:10.1038_21612
    DOI: 10.1038/21612
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    Cited by:

    1. Wei Du & Feng Gao & Peng Cui & Zhiwu Yu & Wei Tong & Jihao Wang & Zhuang Ren & Chuang Song & Jiaying Xu & Haifeng Ma & Liyun Dang & Di Zhang & Qingyou Lu & Jun Jiang & Junfeng Wang & Li Pi & Zhigao Sh, 2023. "Twisting, untwisting, and retwisting of elastic Co-based nanohelices," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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