biostudies-literatureWang XResearch Grants Council, University Grants CommitteeResearch Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC)National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)1655https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10897219biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)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 througNature communicationsMoire effect enables versatile design of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals.PMC10897219623752546230532326302320Jiang JChen JPeng CWang XTang WZhang RAsilehan ZfalseMoire effect enables versatile design of topological defects in nematic liquid crystals.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 throug2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Feb2025-04-26T08:42:20.551Z2025-04-06T12:48:34.76ZS-EPMC108972193840923410.1038/s41467-024-45529-z