Smectic liquid crystals that tilt without layer contraction
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
In conventional smectic liquid crystals (LC) the transition into thetilted Sm C phase is accompanied by a decrease of smectic layerspacing. This is a very negative factor for electro-optic displaysbased on ferro- and antiferroelectric smectic LC because the layercompression leads to a buckling of layers in a chevron geometry.This results in a serious degrade of the quality of such devices.Recently a number of novel smectic materials have been discoveredwith practically no layer compression. These materials attract asignificant interest from industry and academia; they seem torepresent a novel type of tilting transition which may also beobserved in other soft matter systems including organic monolayers,artificial and biological membranes. A novel molecular theory of SmA - Sm C transition will be developed which explains why somematerials do not show a layer contraction, and why others do, andhow the molecular structure can affect the nature of the tiltingtransition. The theory will explain the existing experimental dataincluding the role of low orientational order and weak interlayercorrelations. Molecular models for smectics without layercompression will be proposed, based on model interaction potentials,and molecular parameters will be identified which enable one todistinguish between conventional and novel smectic materials.
Publications
D. Nonnenmacher (Co-Author)
(2010)
Unconventional ferroelectric behavior in nanosegregating liquid crystals with de Vries-like behavior
in physical review. e, statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics
Gorkunov M
(2008)
Molecular models for the smectic A-smectic C phase transition in a system of biaxial molecules
in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical
Gorkunov M
(2008)
Tunability of wire-grid metamaterial immersed into nematic liquid crystal
in Journal of Applied Physics
Gorkunov M
(2010)
On the measurement of the orientational order parameters in biaxial liquid crystals using the polarised infrared technique
in Liquid Crystals
Gorkunov MV
(2007)
Order-disorder molecular model of the smectic-A-smectic-C phase transition in materials with conventional and anomalously weak layer contraction.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Gorkunov MV
(2007)
Molecular model for de Vries type smectic- A -smectic- C phase transition in liquid crystals.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Gorkunov MV
(2008)
Molecular theory of layer contraction in smectic liquid crystals.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Nonnenmacher D
(2010)
Unconventional ferroelectric behavior in nanosegregating liquid crystals with de Vries-like behavior.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Osipov M
(2009)
Microscopic origin of ferroelectricity in chiral smectic C* liquid crystals and ordering of 'ferroelectric fishes' proposed by de Gennes
in Liquid Crystals
Osipov MA
(2008)
Ferroelectric ordering in chiral smectic-C* liquid crystals determined by nonchiral intermolecular interactions.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Description | We have developed a consistent molecular theory which explains the microscopic origin of the ferroelectric ordering in smectic liquid crystals and various mechanisms of the transition between orthogonal and tilted smectic phases. A large amount of expeprimenta; data have also been interpreted. |
Exploitation Route | Our main results are used by other theorists working in the filed to develop the theory further and the results ae also used by a number of experimental groups to explain their new results. |
Sectors | Education Electronics Energy |
Description | Our theoretical findings have been used by a number of experimental groups world wide who are active in the field of ferroelectric smectic liquid crystals. |
First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
Sector | Education,Electronics |
Impact Types | Cultural Economic |
Description | Manhester Liquid Crystal Group |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have developed a number of theoretical models which describe the expeprimental data obtained in Manchester |
Collaborator Contribution | mmebers of the Manchester experimental group have obtained many interesting results which require an interpretation |
Impact | I have published 7 papers together with Prof. Helen Gleeson, Dr. Ingo Dierking and other members of the Manchester group. |
Description | Southampton Liquid Crystal Group |
Organisation | University of Southampton |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We have developed a theory of smectic liquid crystals that tilt without layer contraction in collaboration with prof. Sluckin from mathematics and the theory of biaxial smectics A in collaboration with prof. Luckhurst from Chemistry |
Collaborator Contribution | prof. Sluckin from mathematics was a Co Investigator on my ERSRC grant and has participated in the development of a molecular theory of de Vries type smectics. Prof. Luckhust from Chemistry has participated in the development of the theory of biaxial smectics. |
Impact | I have published two papers together with prof. Sluckin and Prof. Luckhurst. |
Description | . 21 International Liquid Crystal Conference, Keystone, Colorado, July 2006 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | My talk has inspired discussions about the properties of de Vries smectics Some opinions about the nature of phase transitions between SmA and SmC phases have been changed |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006 |
Description | . 23 International Liquid Crystal Conference, Krakow, Poland, July 2010 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A number of interesting discussions with expeprimentalists and theorists has been sparked The results have been used by a number of experimental groups to plan new experiments |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | 10th European Liquid Crystal Conference, Colmar, April 2009, France |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Invited speaker : Participation in conference : Speaker: 14th European Liquid Crystal Conference, Colmar, France. the talk has inspired further research activity in this area |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009 |
Description | 11 International Conference on Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals, eptember 2007, Sapporo, Lapan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | There have been several discussions on the role of various intermolecular interactions in ferroelectric liquid crystals after my talk Some results presented in the talk have been later used by the Tokyo research group |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
Description | 11th European Liquid Crystal Conference, Maribor, Slovenia, February 2011. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | There were interesting discussions about molecular biaxiality in liquid crystals after my talk After my talk the people started to consider the possibility to verify the results experimentally |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | 26th Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | paper presentation |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Invited speaker : Participation in conference : speaker: 26th Progress in Electromagnetics Research Symposium, Moscow, Russia. After the talk some opinions have been changed |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | International School of Liquid Crystals |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Keynote/plenary speaker : Key-note speaker and plenary lectures at conferences : Plenary Lecture "Microscopic mechanisms of the tilt, biaxiality and ferroelectric ordering in smectic liquid crystals" at the International School of Liquid Crystals, Erice, Italy, 28 Oct.-1 Nov. 2008. After my talk some microscopic mechanisms of ferroelectricity and tilt have been reconsiderd |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | Member of the Scientific Committees of International Liquid Crystal Conferences. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | |
Results and Impact | Member : Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups : Member of the Scientific Committees of International Liquid Crystal Conferences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |