Self-organization processes and topological defects in nanolayers in a nematic liquid crystal

Journal Article · Thu May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063776108050129· OSTI ID:21242009

Chuvyrov, A N; Mal'tsev, I S ^[1]

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1. Bashkortostan State Pedagogical University (Russian Federation)

Atomic force microscopy is used to study the self-organization processes that occur during the formation of topological defects in nanomolecular layers in a nematic liquid crystal with the homeotropic orientation of its molecules with respect to the substrate. In this case, a smectic monolayer with a thickness of one molecule length (about 2.2 nm) forms on the substrate, and a nanomolecular layer of a nematic liquid crystal forms above this monolayer. In such virtually two-dimensional layers, numerous different nanoclusters, namely, hut structures, pyramids, raft structures with symmetry C{sub nm} (where n = 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, ?, {infinity}), cones, and nanopools, form [1]. They have a regular shape close to the geometry of solid crystals. Modulated linear structures and topological point defects appear spontaneously in the nanopools and raft structures.

• OSTI ID: 21242009
• Journal Information: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 106; ISSN JTPHES; ISSN 1063-7761
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
CONES
GEOMETRY
GRAIN ORIENTATION
LAYERS
LIQUID CRYSTALS
NANOSTRUCTURES
POINT DEFECTS
SUBSTRATES
SYMMETRY
THICKNESS
TOPOLOGY