Three-Dimensional Complex-Shaped Photopolymerized Microparticles at Liquid Crystal Interfaces
Microparticles of arbitrary shapes immersed in the bulk of nematic fluids are known to produce dipolar or quadrupolar elastic distortions that can mediate long-range colloidal interactions. We use two-photon photopolymerization to obtain complex-shaped surface-bound microparticles that are then embedded into a nematic liquid crystal host with a uniform far-field director. By means of three-dimensional imaging with multi-photon excitation fluorescence polarizing microscopy, we demonstrate low-symmetry, long-range elastic distortions induced by the particles in the liquid crystal director field. These director distortions may provide a means for controlling elastic interactions in liquid crystals between custom-designed photopolymerized microparticles attached to confining solid substrates and nematic fluid-borne colloids, thus enabling elasticity-mediated templated self-assembly.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), National Science Foundation (NSF)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1039103
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5900-54771; TRN: US201209%%166
- Journal Information:
- Soft Matter, Vol. 8, Issue 8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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