Artificial web of disclination lines in nematic liquid crystals

Mengfei Wang, Yannian Li and Hiroshi Yokoyama ()
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Mengfei Wang: Kent State University
Yannian Li: Kent State University
Hiroshi Yokoyama: Kent State University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Disclinations are topological singularities of molecular arrangement in liquid crystals, which typically occur when the average orientation of molecules makes a π rotation along a fictitious closed loop taken inside the liquid crystal. Depending on the sense of molecular rotation, the disclination lines are either of 1/2 or −1/2 strength. When two disclination lines with the opposite strength meet, they are annihilated without trace. It is hence generally considered difficult in the nematic phase to stabilize a condensed array of free-standing disclination lines without the aid of topological objects like colloidal inclusions. Here we show that a free-standing web of 1/2-strength twist disclination lines can be stably formed in thin liquid crystal cells by means of a judicious combination of orientationally patterned confining surfaces fabricated by the micropatterned photoalignment technique. Theoretical model indicates that disclination lines are held apart at the intersection by a repulsive force generated by the Frank elasticity.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00548-x

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