Creation of liquid-crystal periodic zigzags by surface treatment and thermal annealing.
The orientation control of soft matter to create a large area single domain is one of the most exciting research topics in materials science. Recently, this effort has been extended to fabricate two- or three-dimensional structures for electro-optical applications. Here, we create periodic zigzag structures in liquid crystals (LCs) using a combination of surface treatment and thermal annealing. The LC molecules in the nematic (N) phase were initially guided by the alignment layer of rubbed polymers, which were quenched and subsequently annealed in the smectic A (SmA) phase to create periodic zigzag structures that represent modulated layer structures. Direct investigation of the zigzags was performed using microscopy and diffraction techniques, showing the alternately arranged focal conic domains (FCDs) formed. The resulting macroscopic periodic structures will be of interest in further studies of the physical properties of soft matters.
Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC, KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea. nandk@kaist.ac.kr.
Seong Ho
SH
Ryu
Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC, KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea. nandk@kaist.ac.kr.
Min-Jun
MJ
Gim
Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC, KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea. nandk@kaist.ac.kr.
Yun Jeong
YJ
Cha
UNIST Central Research Facilities & School of Natural Science, UNIST, Ulsan, 689-789, Republic of Korea.
Tae Joo
TJ
Shin
Pohang Accelerator Laboratory, POSTECH, Pohang, 790-784, Republic of Korea.
Hyungju
H
Ahn
Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology and KINC, KAIST, Daejeon, 305-701, Republic of Korea. nandk@kaist.ac.kr.
Dong Ki
DK
Yoon