Nematic liquid crystals embedded in cubic microlattices : memory effects and bistable pixels
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2013
Citazione:
Nematic liquid crystals embedded in cubic microlattices : memory effects and bistable pixels / F. Serra, S.M. Eaton, R. Cerbino, M. Buscaglia, G. Cerullo, R. Osellame, T. Bellini. - In: ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS. - ISSN 1616-301X. - 23:32(2013), pp. 3990-3994.
Abstract:
The confi nement of liquid crystals in geometries with frustrating boundary
conditions gives rise to nontrivial effects such as bistability and memory. It
is shown that large memory effects arise when nematic liquid crystals are
embedded in cubic micrometer-sized scaffolds made by two-photon polymerization.
The electric fi eld alignment of the liquid crystals inside the porous
medium is maintained when the applied fi eld is above a threshold (approximately
2 V per micrometer of cell thickness). The onset of the memory is an
on/off type process for each individual pore of the scaffold, and the memory
typically starts emerging in one region of the structure and then propagates.
The global memory effects in porous structures with controlled geometry are
enhanced with respect to the case of random porous structures. This work is
a proof of the “memory from topology” principle, which was previously suggested
by computer simulations. These new materials can pave the way to
new types of bistable displays.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
composite materials; liquid crystals; materials with memory; microstructures; porous materials
Elenco autori:
F. Serra, S.M. Eaton, R. Cerbino, M. Buscaglia, G. Cerullo, R. Osellame, T. Bellini
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