Defect-mediated colloidal interactions in a nematic-phase discotic solvent.

ABSTRACT: Interactions between colloidal inclusions dispersed in a nematic discotic liquid-crystalline solvent were investigated for different solute-solvent coupling conditions. The solvent was treated at the level of Gay-Berne discogens. Colloidal inclusions were coupled to the solvent with a generalized sphere-ellipsoid interaction potential. Energy strengths were varied to promote either homeotropic or planar mesogenic anchoring. Colloid-colloid interactions were modeled using a soft, excluded-volume contribution. Single-colloid and colloid-pair samples were evolved with Molecular Dynamics simulations. Equilibrium trajectories were used to characterize structural and dynamical properties of topological defects arising in the mesomorphic phase due to colloidal inclusions. Boojums were observed wi

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Martinez AD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9073280 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature