Local chiral symmetry breaking in triatic liquid crystals

Kun Zhao, Robijn Bruinsma and Thomas G. Mason ()
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Kun Zhao: University of California-Los Angeles
Robijn Bruinsma: University of California-Los Angeles
Thomas G. Mason: University of California-Los Angeles

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Understanding the behaviour of thermally excited many-particle systems, composed of a single particle type having a well-defined shape and size, is important in condensed matter, notably protein crystallization. Here we observe and explain the origin of local chiral symmetry breaking in a surprisingly simple system of hard Brownian particles: achiral regular triangles confined to two dimensions. Using enhanced optical video particle-tracking microscopy, we show that microscale lithographic triangular platelets form two different triatic liquid crystal phases. Above a particle area fraction φA≈0.55, the simple triatic phase is spatially disordered, yet has molecular orientational characteristics that distinguish it from a hexatic liquid crystal. At higher φA≥0.61, we find a second triatic phase exhibiting local chiral symmetry breaking; rotational entropy favours laterally offsetting the positions of nearest-neighbouring triangles. By contributing to spatial disordering, local chiral symmetry breaking can limit the range of shapes that can be entropically crystallized.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1803

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