Gleeson, HF, Miller, RJ, Tian, L et al. (2 more authors) (2015) Liquid crystal blue phases: stability, field effects and alignment. Liquid Crystals, 42 (5-6). pp. 760-771. ISSN 0267-8292
Abstract
The blue phases are fascinating structures in liquid crystals, fluids that exhibit cubic structures that have true crystalline order. The blue phases were discovered in the 1970s and were the subject of extensive research in the 1980s, when a deep understanding of many of their properties was established. The discovery that the blue phases could be stabilised to exist over wide temperature ranges meant that they became more than scientific curiosities and led to a recent resurgence in research into them as they offer some promise in applications. This paper considers some important aspects of the blue phases that are recurrent topics in their research. It describes factors affecting blue phase stability, demonstrating on the role of the bend elastic constant; field effects, including the Kerr effect, electrostriction and relaxation phenomena; and alignment, in particular production and control of blue phase monodomains. The dependence of these phenomena on the physical properties of the liquid crystalline system, including the twist and bend elastic constants and the dielectric anisotropy, is emphasised wherever possible. The paper links work carried out in the 1980s with contemporary research, using a few key examples to show how there is still much to understand in this beautiful topic.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2015 Taylor & Francis. This is an author produced version of an article published in Liquid Crystals. The version of record is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2014.1002821. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | blue phase; elastic constants; electric field effects; alignment |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Physics and Astronomy (Leeds) > Soft Matter Physics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Jul 2015 11:39 |
Last Modified: | 02 Apr 2016 09:04 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02678292.2014.1002821 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/02678292.2014.1002821 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:86432 |