Abstract
Microparticles of arbitrary shapes immersed in the bulk of nematic fluids are known to produce dipolar or quadrupolar elastic distortions that can mediate long-range colloidal interactions. We use two-photon photopolymerization to obtain complex-shaped surface-bound microparticles that are then embedded into a nematic liquid crystal host with a uniform far-field director. By means of three-dimensional imaging with multi-photon excitation fluorescence polarizing microscopy, we demonstrate low-symmetry, long-range elastic distortions induced by the particles in the liquid crystal director field. These director distortions may provide a means for controlling elastic interactions in liquid crystals between custom-designed photopolymerized microparticles attached to confining solid substrates and nematic fluid-borne colloids, thus enabling elasticity-mediated templated self-assembly.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2432-2437 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Soft Matter |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 28 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics