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Self-assembly of bent-core nematics in nanopores
Citation Link: https://doi.org/10.15480/882.15924
Publikationstyp
Journal Article
Date Issued
2025
Sprache
English
TORE-DOI
Journal
Citation
Small (in Press): (2025)
Publisher DOI
Scopus ID
Publisher
Wiley
Bent-core nematic liquid crystals exhibit unique properties, including giant flexoelectricity and polar electro-optic responses, making them ideal for energy conversion and electro-optic applications. When confined in nanopores, they can stabilize chiral nanostructures, enhance polar order, and enable defect-driven switching – offering potential in nanofluidics, sensing, and adaptive optics. The thermotropic ordering of the bent-core dimer CB7CB confined in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and silica membranes with precisely engineered cylindrical nanochannels – ranging from just a few nanometers to several hundred nanometers–is examined. These well-aligned nanochannels enable high-resolution polarimetry studies of optical anisotropy, revealing how geometric confinement affects molecular organization and phase behavior. Under weak confinement, CB7CB forms a layered heterophase structure, with nematic, splay-bent, and twist-bent heliconical phases likely arranged concentrically. As confinement increases, a Landau-de Gennes analysis shows that ordered phases are suppressed, leaving only a paranematic phase under strong spatial constraints. Remarkably, temperature-dependent changes in optical birefringence under confinement closely resemble those seen under applied electric fields, revealing a parallel between geometric and electro-optic effects. Overall, this work demonstrates how nanoconfinement allows one to systematically tailor the self-assembly and optical behavior of bent-core nematics, enabling novel functionalities in responsive and anisotropic materials.
Subjects
liquid crystal nanocomposites
mesoporous alumina
mesoporous silica
nanoconfinement
optical polarimetry
twist-bent nematics
DDC Class
530.4: States of Matter
541: Physical; Theoretical
620.11: Engineering Materials
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publishedVersion
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Small - 2025 - Maksym - Self‐Assembly of Bent‐Core Nematics in Nanopores.pdf
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4.03 MB
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