Characterization of the Submicrometer Hierarchy Levels in the Twist-Bend Nematic Phase with Nanometric Helices via Photopolymerization. Explanation for the Sign Reversal in the Polar Response

Panov, Vitaly P.; Sreenilayam, Sithara P.; Panarin, Yuri P.; Vij, Jagdish K.; Welch, Chris J.; Mehl, Georg H.

Abstract

Photopolymerization of a reactive mesogen mixed with a mesogenic dimer, shown to exhibit the twist-bend nematic phase (NTB), reveals the complex structure of the self-deformation patterns observed in planar cells. The polymerized reactive mesogen retains the structure formed by liquid crystalline molecules in the twist bend phase, thus enabling its observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hierarchical ordering scales ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers are imaged in detail. Submicron features, anticipated from earlier X-ray experiments, are visualized directly. In the self-deformation stripes formed in the NTB phase, the average director field is found tilted in the cell plane by an angle of up to 45° from the cell rubbing direction. This tilt explains the sign inversion being observed inthe electro-optical studies

Citation

Panov, V. P., Sreenilayam, S. P., Panarin, Y. P., Vij, J. K., Welch, C. J., & Mehl, G. H. (2017). Characterization of the Submicrometer Hierarchy Levels in the Twist-Bend Nematic Phase with Nanometric Helices via Photopolymerization. Explanation for the Sign Reversal in the Polar Response. Nano Letters, 17(12), 7515-7519. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03441

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 14, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Nov 14, 2017
• Publication Date: Nov 14, 2017
• Deposit Date: Feb 6, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2018
• Journal: Nano Letters
• Print ISSN: 1530-6984
• Electronic ISSN: 1530-6992
• Publisher: American Chemical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 7515-7519
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03441
• Keywords: Mechanical Engineering; General Materials Science; Bioengineering; General Chemistry; Condensed Matter Physics
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/479537
• Publisher URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03441
• Additional Information: This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Nano letters, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b03441
• Contract Date: Feb 6, 2018