Topological Defect Guided Order Evolution across the Nematic-Smectic Phase Transition

Wu, Sai-Bo; Wu, Jin‐Bing; Cao, Huimin; Lu, Yanqing; Hu, Wei

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.130.078101

Cited by 16 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The thermodynamic process will determine the evolution of TFCDs [38,41] . Wu et al [38] . demonstrated two distinct topological defects in the N phase by varying the cooling rate.…”

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Various topological superstructures have been observed in the SLCs under different external conditions. [38] Polymeric LCs, such as LC elastomers (LCEs) and LC networks (LCNs), exhibit macroscopic deformation when stimulated by an external thermal field. When heated above the glass transition temperature, the in-built orientational order of LCs reduces, resulting in contraction along the LC director and elongation perpendicular to the director.…”

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The thermodynamic process will determine the evolution of TFCDs. [38,41] Wu et al [38] demonstrated two distinct topological defects in the N phase by varying the cooling rate. One was a pure point defect array, and the other was unidirectional disclination lines.…”

Section: Thermally Sensitive Lcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Smectic LCs (SLCs) exhibit both the long‐range orientational and positional order with the long axes of the molecules being either perpendicular or tilted to the layer plane. Various topological superstructures have been observed in the SLCs under different external conditions [38] . Polymeric LCs, such as LC elastomers (LCEs) and LC networks (LCNs), exhibit macroscopic deformation when stimulated by an external thermal field.…”

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This property makes them suitable for a range of applications, such as temperature sensing, thermal mapping, temperature‐dependent coatings, smart windows, and even visual indicators for temperature variations in various systems. Besides the temperature, temperature programming and functional dopants affect the LC structures [17c,17g,38,39b,40] …”

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Stimuli‐responsive active materials for dynamic control of light field

Zheng,

Wei,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Responsive Materials

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The increasing demand for the multidimensional and dynamic control of light has spurred the development of stimuli‐responsive, reconfigurable, and programmable optical systems. Liquid crystals (LCs), which combine liquid‐like stimuli‐responsiveness and crystal‐like orientational ordering, have emerged as highly appealing soft materials. Owing to their exceptional optical performance and programmable functionalities, they are becoming incredibly important materials in active planar optics and photonics. Additionally, silk proteins, luminescent materials, and metasurfaces exhibit dynamic optical properties, enabling remarkable multifunctional applications. This review focuses on the advancements in stimuli‐responsive materials, including LCs, silk proteins, luminescent materials, and active metasurfaces as well as some of these materials paired with LCs. Their attractive tunable applications in optics and photonics, along with the great potential for the future development of active optical systems, are also emphasized.

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“…The thermodynamic process will determine the evolution of TFCDs [38,41] . Wu et al [38] . demonstrated two distinct topological defects in the N phase by varying the cooling rate.…”

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Thermally Sensitive Lcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Dynamically Reconfigurable Lcmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Stimuli‐responsive active materials for dynamic control of light field

Zheng,

Wei,

Zhang

et al. 2023

Responsive Materials

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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When Structured Light Encounters Liquid Crystals

Zhou,

Zhong,

Liu

et al. 2024

Adv Funct Materials

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Structured light refers to the light field tailored by various degrees of freedom including intensity, phase, and polarization states in both spatial and temporal domains, which may greatly vitalize the technologies in both optics, such as the next‐generation optical communication as well as subwavelength imaging and the materials science in both fabrication and characterization. The structured characteristics of the structure light need materials also with structured optical properties that can generate or manipulate structured light in a straightforward way, which can be well satisfied by liquid crystals, a soft mater that can self‐assemble into tunable ordered structures through external stimuli. This review summarizes the research progress of the liquid crystal‐based devices used in structured light generations and modulations, including the well‐established techniques in the market, like the spatial light modulator, q‐plate and the liquid crystal integrated optical metasurfaces. Especially, light‐matter interactions are discussed from the topological view of both the structured light and the liquid crystal structures. Such a perfect matching in topology makes the liquid crystal a promising star together with structured light in future optic and photonic technologies.

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Self‐Assembled Biconvex Microlens Array Using Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals

Perera,

Alyami,

Adaka

et al. 2024

Advanced Optical Materials

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Recently, it is shown (Popov et al, Sci. Rep, 2017, 7, 1603) that chiral nematic liquid crystal films adopt biconvex lens shapes underwater, which may explain the formation of insect eyes, but restrict their practical application. Here it is demonstrated that chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals, where the ferroelectric polarization aligns parallel to the air interface, can spontaneously form biconvex lens arrays in air when suspended in submillimeter‐size grids. Using Digital Holographic Microscopy, it is shown that the lens has a paraboloid shape and the curvature radius at the center decreases with increasing chiral dopant concentration, i.e., with decreasing helical pitch. Simultaneous measurements of the imaging properties of the lenses show the focal length depends on the pitch, thus offering tunability. The physical mechanism of formation of the self‐assembled ferroelectric nematic microlenses is also discussed.

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Topological Defect Guided Order Evolution across the Nematic-Smectic Phase Transition

Cited by 16 publications

References 25 publications

Stimuli‐responsive active materials for dynamic control of light field

Stimuli‐responsive active materials for dynamic control of light field

When Structured Light Encounters Liquid Crystals

Self‐Assembled Biconvex Microlens Array Using Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystals

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