Projects / Programmes
Colloidal particles in 2D ferroelectric liquid crystalline films
Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
Code |
Science |
Field |
P250 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties, crystallography, phase equilibria |
P260 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic and optical properties, supraconductors, magnetic resonance, relaxation, spectroscopy |
colloidal particles, smectic liquid crystals, free-standing films
Researchers (5)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The research interest of the proposed project is in colloid-colloid interactions and stability of colloidal structures in 2D dispersions, formed by micro and nanoscale inclusions in two-dimensional ferroelectric liquid-crystalline films. We are interested in the effect of either surface-adsorbed or membrane-included colloidal particles on the liquid crystalline ordering. Depending on the size and surface properties of the particles, either increase or decrease of the nematic-like order is expected, as well as the distortion of the 2D nematic director field. We expect that new kind of structural forces are likely to be observed in such systems, which may significantly influence the colloidal stability. Due to 2D ferroelectricity, we expect important force contributions from the 2D elasticity, the 2D dipolar field, as well as strong influence of the 2D fluctuations of the nematic field, which is of Goldstone character. Of particular interest is here possible enhancement of the range of intercolloidal interactions due to the possible divergent dipolar field, resulting in long range Coulomb interaction. Several advanced experimental methods will be used, such as polarization microscopy with digital image capturing for tracking colloidal motion, spectrophotometry, static and quasielastic light scattering and ellipsometry. The experiments will be fully supported with theoretical analysis.