Molecular theory of liquid crystal thin films

Shihong Meng, Purdue University

Abstract

A molecular theory has been developed to describe the isotropic-nematic transitoon of model nematogens in bulk and in thin films. The surfaces of thin films can be hard surfaces or coated with surfactant monolayers. The theory only includes hard body interactions between all molecule species: solvent, nematogens and surfactants. We have studied the influence of the separation between confining walls, concentration of nematogens, as well as the surface anchoring and areal density of surfactant at the interface upon the phases of nematogens. We have explained the possible existence of planar degenerate phase through entropic pictures and have confirmed close to the bulk isotropic-nematic transition point, the order of the phases of nematogens from isotropic to nematic then back to isotropic when varying the areal density of surfactant monolayers at interfaces. From the results obtained, we believe that we have captured the main competing interactions between surfactants and nematogens and our molecular level theory is capable of describing these two interactions of different natures. Our results can provide a guideline for molecular design of biosensors. We have modeled the molecular systems with as much simplification as possible while retaining the main features. The thesis is arranged into introduction, results on bulk, thin films confined between hard walls and between surfactant monolayers.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Szleifer, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Physical chemistry|Chemical engineering|Materials science

COinS