Nanoparticle-Stabilized Cholesteric Blue Phases

Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Tanaka, Yuma; Kawamoto, Koji; Kubo, Hitoshi; Tsuda, Tetsuya; Fujii, Akihiko; Kuwabata, Susumu; Kikuchi, Hirotsugu; Ozaki, Masanori

doi:10.1143/apex.2.121501

Cited by 239 publications

(176 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…[57] The DRs width (with a total of 7nm) matches the one of the smectic dislocation cores. In addition to their elongated shape, this size matching promotes their trapping inside the line defects, in agreement with the previously evidenced phenomenon of nanospheres trapping by topological LC defects, [66][67][68][69] . The induced orientation of the DRs, parallel to the dislocation cores (Figure 3), may correspond to a precise localization of the DRs within the disordered cores.…”

supporting

confidence: 89%

Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Single‐Photon Emitters Driven by Line Defects in Liquid Crystals

Pelliser

Manceau

Lethiec

et al. 2015

Adv Funct Materials

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We use arrays of liquid crystal defects, linear smectic dislocations, to trap semi-conductor CdSe/CdS dot-in-rods which behave as single photon emitters. We combine measurements of the emission diagram together with measurements of the emitted polarization of the single emitters. We show that the dot-inrods are confined parallel to the linear defects to allow for a minimization of the disorder energy associated with the dislocation cores. We demonstrate that the electric dipoles associated with the dotin-rods, tilted with respect to the rods, remain oriented in the plane including the smectic linear defects and being perpendicular to the substrate, most likely due to the dipole/dipole interactions between the dipoles of the liquid crystal molecules and the dot-in-rods ones. Using smectic dislocations, we can consequently orient nanorods along a unique direction for a given substrate, independently of the ligands' nature, without any induced aggregation, leading as well to a fixed azimuthal orientation for the associated dot-in-rods' dipoles. These results open the way for a fine control of nanoparticle anisotropic optical properties, in particular a fine control of single photon emission polarization.Control of single photon emitters is a major objective in the field of nanophotonics.[1] The synthesis of colloidal semiconductor inorganic nanocrystals having specific light-emission properties has been providing important advances in this field. In particular, recent developments in synthesis methodologies, fully compatible with standard nanofabrication technologies have enabled a superior 3 control on nanocrystals composition and morphology.Rod-shaped nanocrystals showing pronounced polarization, behaving as emitting linear dipoles, have been obtained. [2][3][4] The encapsulation of a spherical core into a rod-like shell [5] resulted in non-blinking inorganic single photon emitters, [6] hereafter referred to as dot-in-rods (DRs). Moreover it has been recently shown that, by increasing the thickness of the shell, it is possible to greatly suppress photoluminescence blinking and to improve DRs overall photo-stability, while keeping a low probability of multi-photon emission. [7] Such features are of primary importance when nanocrystalsare used in applications demanding a control of photons'polarization, such as coupling with complex photonic cavities [8][9] or quantum cryptography.[10] The control of the polarization of the emitted light also requires the capacity to control the particle orientation. Howevertechnologies aimed at guiding nanocrystal orientation at the single particle level are still poorly discussed in literature.Alignednanoparticleshave been obtained through mechanical rubbing, [11] short-range interactions [12][13] or patterned substrates. [14] Liquid crystal-like structures, composed of alarge number of elongated nanocrystalsassembled in multi-layers have also been evidenced on both solid substrates [15][16][17][18] and water films. [18][19][20] Orientation and positional ordering of CdS and CdSe...

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supporting

confidence: 89%

Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Single‐Photon Emitters Driven by Line Defects in Liquid Crystals

Pelliser

Manceau

Lethiec

et al. 2015

Adv Funct Materials

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“…This shows caging of the particles by the BP disclination lines similar to that observed in simulations of strongly confined BP-colloid composite systems [29]. However, it should be noted that this very strong value is likely to be significantly larger than values currently seen in experiment (typically w ∼ 0.1, e.g., [38]). …”

Section: Disclination Structure Around a Single Colloidsupporting

confidence: 74%

Large Colloids in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

2015

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We describe a coarse-grained Landau-de Gennes model of liquid crystals (LCs) including hydrodynamics based on the Beris-Edwards equations. The model is employed to study the impact of large colloids on the long range LC defect structure in the cholesteric LC blue phases. 'Large' here means that the particle size is comparable to the cholesteric pitch, the length scale on which the LC order undergoes a helical twist. We investigate the case of a single particle, with either normal or degenerate planar anchoring, placed initially in an equilibrium blue phase LC. It is found that in some cases, well defined steady disclination structure emerges at the particle surface, while in other cases no clear steady state is reached in the simulations, and disclination reorganisation appears to proliferate through the bulk LC. These systems are of potential interest in the context of using LCs to template self-assembly of colloid structure, e.g., for opto-electronic devices. Computationally, we demonstrate a parallel approach using mixed message-passing and threaded model on graphical processing units allows effective and efficient progress for this problem.

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“…However, the temperature range of blue phases is normally very small, typically about a degree, and the hope is therefore to make the disclination line lattice more permanent by filling it with nanoparticles. Some positive reports have appeared, both of experimental [141,220] and theoretical [203,221] nature, but so far the achievements are not comparable to the more developed approach of expanding the blue phase temperature range by polymerizing a reactive monomer additive within the blue phase [222]. An interesting variation of liquid crystal-based colloid ordering has been developed by the team of Hee-Tae Jung at KAIST, Korea, and Oleg Lavrentovich, Kent State University [223,224].…”

Section: Colloidal Particles Organized By Liquid Crystals and Liquid mentioning

confidence: 99%

A new era for liquid crystal research: Applications of liquid crystals in soft matter nano-, bio- and microtechnology

Lagerwall

Scalia

2012

Current Applied Physics

646

351

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a b s t r a c tLiquid crystals constitute a fascinating class of soft condensed matter characterized by the counterintuitive combination of fluidity and long-range order. Today they are best known for their exceptionally successful application in flat panel displays, but they actually exhibit a plethora of unique and attractive properties that offer tremendous potential for fundamental science as well as innovative applications well beyond the realm of displays. Today this full breadth of the liquid crystalline state of matter is becoming increasingly recognized and numerous new and exciting lines of research are being opened up. We review this exciting development, focusing primarily on the physics aspects of the new research thrusts, in which liquid crystals e thermotropic as well as lyotropic e often meet other types of soft matter, such as polymers and colloidal nano-or microparticle dispersions. Because the field is of large interest also for researchers without a liquid crystal background we begin with a concise introduction to the liquid crystalline state of matter and the key concepts of the research field. We then discuss a selection of promising new directions, starting with liquid crystals for organic electronics, followed by nanotemplating and nanoparticle organization using liquid crystals, liquid crystal colloids (where the liquid crystal can constitute either the continuous phase or the disperse phase, as droplets or shells) and their potential in e.g. photonics and metamaterials, liquid crystal-functionalized polymer fibers, liquid crystal elastomer actuators, ending with a brief overview of activities focusing on liquid crystals in biology, food science and pharmacology.

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Nanoparticle-Stabilized Cholesteric Blue Phases

Cited by 239 publications

References 20 publications

Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Single‐Photon Emitters Driven by Line Defects in Liquid Crystals

Alignment of Rod‐Shaped Single‐Photon Emitters Driven by Line Defects in Liquid Crystals

Large Colloids in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

A new era for liquid crystal research: Applications of liquid crystals in soft matter nano-, bio- and microtechnology

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