Projects / Programmes
Unconventional elasticity and geometry to design topological soft matter with complex orientational ordering fields
| 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 |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
Unconventional elasticity and geometry to design topological soft matter with complex orientational ordering fields
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
33197 |
PhD Simon Čopar |
Physics |
Head |
2014 - 2016 |
160 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Soft matter systems based on mesophases with spontaneous orientational ordering, such as liquid
crystals (LC), LC elastomers and other ordered liquids, are lately receiving a renewed interest far beyond display device technology. Liquid crystals are incorporated into materials that employ complex topological structures, self-assembling colloidal structures, active media, and strong response to external stimuli. Because they are liquids, they are resistant to degradation, capable of forming self-healing structures, while their orientational anisotropy provides the ability of self-assembly and formation of complicated metastable and stable superstructures. Current research activity is concentrated around colloidal and emulsive systems, their applications in optics and photonics, memory devices, microfluidics and laboratory-on-chip technologies. In this proposal, we aim to explore emerging materials with unconventional orientational elastic and order properties, such as chromonics, biaxial nematics, phases based on bent-core mesogens that form twist-bend phases and various classes of smectics, and highly chiral nematic phases with blue phase structure, to name a few. Our main research methodology will focus on numerical and analytical modeling of these materials. The theoretical toolkit employs topological theory of defects and inclusions, which has been in active development in the past few years. The current state-of-the art covers uniaxial nematic phases well, but will require expansion to work for materials with different elastic properties. In addition to purely theoretical tasks, further development of numerical methods is needed to handle complex geometric patterns and the required broader set of material parameters. Due to the increased number of parameters and complexity of order parameter space of unconventionally elastic orientational materials, simulations are essential to guide selection of optimal parameters used in experimental setup. We anticipate that our results will reveal new structures in these materials, explain subtle phenomena observed in experiments, and push forward our theoretical understanding of defect interactions leading to self-assembly of envisioned superstructures. Indirectly, the project will also help to open this new segment of the topological soft matter to applications.
Significance for science
The work done within this project had an important influence on the progress in the field of soft matter. Improved understanding and better experimental methods allow consideration of more complex examples of matter. Theoretical knowledge also advanced, especially on the topic of defects in liquid crystals. The findings of this projects were published in 18 scientific papers, including high-impact journals such as Nature Physics, Nature Communications, PNAS and Soft Matter, and included collaboration with several (at least 4) research groups from all around the world. These publications were cited 62 times (38 pure citations) (WOS), which reflects the importance for international science. A lot of articles are still in their first year after publication, so we expect these numbers to get higher. A lot of the findings were frequently reported on international conferences and guest lectures on other universities, and also hosted foreign researchers, which shows the influence of our research on the basic science. Indirectly, the opening of new research fields and enabling new methods, our results also influence future applications.
Significance for the country
The findings of this project establish the role of slovenian science and researchers on the international scope. However, they also hold an important role for educating younger members of the research groups at FMF-UL and IJS, especially for the new PhD and Master's program students, who followed the research when it was happening, and some also contributed to it. More influential publications were also featured in public media; for instance, the paper (Nikkhou et al, Nature Physics 11. 2015) was awarded as one of the most influential publications of University of Ljubljan in the year 2015. The recent results were presented also to high-school pupils and students in public presentation events and student conferences (such as KONFOR 2014). This also establishes the realization of teh public that the science in Slovenia is active and influential also on the internation level and inspires young students to take on the path of research in the field of this research project.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2014,
2015,
final report
