| 초록 |
Lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals (LCLCs) are composed of organic, charged, and plank-like molecules that self-assemble/disassemble in water into columnar aggregates via non-covalent interactions. Theses elongated aggregates can be modeled as “living” semi-flexible polyelectrolytes. According to temperature and concentration, the aggregates adapt their length distribution with large polydispersity and, as mesogens, assemble into nematic or columnar liquid crystalline phases. I introduce collective works that study LCLCs under confinement of various geometries and boundary conditions. Their director configurations are investigated using optical microscopy and numerical calculations. Unusual elastic properties of LCLCs lead to remarkably large chiral symmetry breaking and the formation of novel defects. These findings deepen our understanding of the interplay of anisotropic elasticity, confining geometry, and topological defects. |
