title: Nanoscale analysis of defect shedding from liquid crystal interfaces.
abstract: A new defect-forming mechanism is predicted for liquid crystals undergoing an isotropic-to-nematic phase transition. A continuum theory characterizes how +1/2 defects (D<30 nm) evolve within and then shed from the interface (cross section approximately 100 nm) of a growing 5CB (4-n-4'-pentyl-4-cyanobiphenyl) nanodroplet (20 nm<D<2000 nm). Free energy density, defect core shapes, and the evolving defect core structure are presented at the nanoscale to better understand liquid crystal anisotropy and orientation during interfacial defect shedding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and McGill Institute of Advanced Materials, McGill University, 3610 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B2, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wincure
authors.forename: Alejandro D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rey
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D050866:Liquid Crystals / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances