Finite particle size drives defect-mediated domain structures in strongly confined colloidal liquid crystals

Liquid crystals confined to micrometre-sized geometries can be well described by a continuum theory, where the size effect of constituent mesogens is negligible. Here, the authors show how the continuum theory breaks down in colloidal liquid crystal, leading to the formation of defect-mediated domai...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ioana C. Gârlea, Pieter Mulder, José Alvarado, Oliver Dammone, Dirk G. A. L. Aarts, M. Pavlik Lettinga, Gijsje H. Koenderink, Bela M. Mulder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2016-06-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12112
Description
Summary:Liquid crystals confined to micrometre-sized geometries can be well described by a continuum theory, where the size effect of constituent mesogens is negligible. Here, the authors show how the continuum theory breaks down in colloidal liquid crystal, leading to the formation of defect-mediated domains.
ISSN:2041-1723