Moire effect enables versatile design of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals.

ABSTRACT: Recent advances in surface-patterning techniques of liquid crystals have enabled the precise creation of topological defects, which promise a variety of emergent applications. However, the manipulation and application of these defects remain limited. Here, we harness the moiré effect to engineer topological defects in patterned nematic liquid crystal cells. Specifically, we combine simulation and experiment to examine a nematic cell confined between two substrates of periodic surface anchoring patterns; by rotating one surface against the other, we observe a rich variety of highly tunable, novel topological defects. These defects are shown to guide the three-dimensional self-assembly of colloids, which can conversely impact defects by preventing the self-annihilation of loop-defects throug

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10897219 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature