Computational study of a nanoparticle-rich domain formation in a nematic liquid crystal

ORAL

Abstract

Past work has shown that when functionalized quantum dots are introduced into a nematic liquid crystal host and then cooled through the isotropic-nematic phase transition, structures of numerous sizes and morphologies are formed via self-assembly. The sizes of these structures are controlled by tuning the cooling rate of the liquid crystal. During the transition, the segregation of isotropic and nematic domains behaves as a classic phase separation phenomenon. We study this phenomenon by using the Cahn-Hilliard equation in conjunction with the nematic liquid crystal order parameter. By combining these two systems, we successfully model phase domain separation that follows the lower order parameter of the liquid crystal, as seen in experiments. We calculate isotropic domain size as a function of cooling rate, and find a power law relation that is differs from experimental observations, yet shows similar behavior.

–

Authors

  • Charles Melton

    University of California Merced

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343

  • C. Jennings

    Stanford University, None, none, Univ of California - Merced, Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte & ECAP, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, NASA GSFC, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center-NASA, University of Nevada, Reno, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, Penn State, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Department of Physics, Boise State University, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Micron School of Materials Science & Engineering, Boise State University, Naval Research Laboratory, Independent Researcher, Cornell University, UC Santa Cruz, Middle Georgia State University, University of California, Merced, Stanford University, California, Institute of Medical Biology, Singapore; Stanford University, California, University of California Merced, Kent State University, ORNL, UC Berkeley, LLNL, Physics, Hokkaido University, Japan, Physics, UC San Diego, Physics, California State University, Fresno, Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California 90840, USA, Department of Physics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA, Department of Physics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen 518055, China, Virginia Tech, Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc., Univ of California - Santa Cruz, College of Staten Island, UC Irvine, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, University of California, Merced CA 95343