Novel Electro-optic and Photonic Behaviours in Bent Core Liquid Crystals

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Chemistry

Abstract

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Description New phases of matter, in between solids and liquids have been found. Some of the phases have handed structures where the molecules themselves are not. One of these phases has been called the dark conglomerate phase. It exhibits very fast response times in electrooptic devices (as found by our partner Leeds University). This has driven us to explore this potential exciting result via an application for further funding for these unusual bent core materials.
Exploitation Route They may be of interest in developing new displays and sensors. Further research is required urgently on the electroptic properties of the dark conglomerate phase, and materials design for materials that exhibit this phase. To this end a proposal to EPSRC has just been made between Leeds (Physics) and York (Chemistry) entitled: Broken symmetry in novel soft matter systems for advanced photonics, EP/R004668/1 specifically on dark conglomerate phases.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Electronics
 
Description Leeds University 
Organisation University of Leeds
Department School of Physics and Astronomy
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Synthesis of materials for physical studies
Collaborator Contribution Physical studies on materials provided by York University. Studies form the basis of ne applications of materials in devices.
Impact Raman Scattering Studies of Order Parameters in Liquid Crystalline Dimers Exhibiting the Nematic and Twist-bend Nematic Phases, Z. Zhang, V.P. Panov, M. Nagaraj, R.J. Mandle, J.W. Goodby, G.R. Luckhurst, J.C. Jones and H.F. Gleeson, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015, 3, 10007-10016, DOI: 10.1039/c5tc02174j.
Start Year 2015
 
Description The Victoria University of Manchester 
Organisation University of Manchester
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Our collaborations with the Department of Physics of the University of Manchester (Professor Gleeson) started around 1990 and have lasted to today. Our work basically involved Hull and then York Universities, which have hosted the Liquid Crystals and Advanced Materials Research Group, and was directed towards synthesizing organic materials, low molar mass and polymers, which had practical uses in displays and sensors, or in fundamental or in modelling soft matter systems.
Collaborator Contribution Physical and engineering investigations of materials we have either designed together, materials we have invented, or literature materials of interest to Manchester.
Impact Our collaborations are multidisciplinary, and we have had shared grants, and published in excess of 40 papers together. Our most important success was in the fundamental investigations of the structures of ferrielectric liquid crystals by resonance X-ray diffraction.
Start Year 2006
 
Description Public Lectures/Teaching 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We Have lectured/taught/entertained numerous public/educational events from schools to Christmas Lectures, to large scale public lectures, and from science to art, and all with demonstrations. we have done schools lectures from classes of 10 upwards, to cafe scientific for about 50, to large auditoriums for the public and Science Conferences for up to 250. We expect be doing city performances in the coming year, these will be major events for entertaining the public, and may be held in Museums and Council auditoriums, where we will also be using films and music in addition to our demonstrations etc.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2009,2011,2012,2013,2015,2016,2017,2018