Experimental realization of crossover in shape and director field of nematic tactoids

Simple item page
dc.citation.firstpage42507en_US
dc.citation.journalTitlePhysical Review Een_US
dc.citation.volumeNumber91en_US
dc.contributor.authorJamali, Vidaen_US
dc.contributor.authorBehabtu, Natnaelen_US
dc.contributor.authorSenyuk, Bohdanen_US
dc.contributor.authorLee, J. Alexen_US
dc.contributor.authorSmalyukh, Ivan I.en_US
dc.contributor.authorvan der Schoot, Paulen_US
dc.contributor.authorPasquali, Matteoen_US
dc.contributor.orgSmalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technologyen_US
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-09T15:30:05Zen_US
dc.date.available2015-07-09T15:30:05Zen_US
dc.date.issued2015en_US
dc.description.abstractSpindle-shaped nematic droplets (tactoids) form in solutions of rod-like molecules at the onset of the liquid crystalline phase. Their unique shape and internal structure result from the interplay of the elastic deformation of the nematic and anisotropic surface forces. The balance of these forces dictates that tactoids must display a continuous variation in aspect ratio and director-field configuration. Yet, such continuous transition has eluded observation for decades: tactoids have displayed either a bipolar configuration with particles aligned parallel to the droplet interface or a homogeneous configuration with particles aligned parallel to the long axis of the tactoid. Here, we report the first observation of the continuous transition in shape and director-field configuration of tactoids in true solutions of carbon nanotubes in chlorosulfonic acid. This observation is possible because the exceptional length of carbon nanotubes shifts the transition to a size range that can be visualized by optical microscopy. Polarization micrographs yield the interfacial and elastic properties of the system. Absorbance anisotropy measurements provide the highest nematic order parameter (S=0.79) measured to date for a nematic phase of carbon nanotubes at coexistence with its isotropic phase.en_US
dc.identifier.citationJamali, Vida, Behabtu, Natnael, Senyuk, Bohdan, et al.. "Experimental realization of crossover in shape and director field of nematic tactoids." <i>Physical Review E,</i> 91, (2015) American Physical Society: 42507. http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.042507.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.91.042507en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/80860en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherAmerican Physical Societyen_US
dc.rightsArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.en_US
dc.titleExperimental realization of crossover in shape and director field of nematic tactoidsen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.type.dcmiTexten_US
dc.type.publicationpublisher versionen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
PhysRevE.91.042507.pdf
Size:
1.53 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Faculty Publications
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Publications
Chemistry Publications
Materials Science and NanoEngineering Publications