Alignment visualization using electroconvection of planar nematics

Title data

Bock, Thomas M. ; Bläsing, Jürgen ; Frette, Vidar ; Rehberg, Ingo:
Alignment visualization using electroconvection of planar nematics.
In: Review of Scientific Instruments. Vol. 71 (2000) Issue 7 . - pp. 2800-2806.
ISSN 1089-7623
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1150696

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

In electroconvection experiments with planarly aligned nematic liquid crystals the director orientation is, conventionally, fixed through a mechanical treatment (rubbing) of the polymer-coated electrodes. Without rubbing, on the other hand, the flow direction during sample filling imposes the director orientation. We report atomic force microscopy and x-ray measurements that show an anisotropy in the polymer surface structure on several scales as a result of the rubbing. In particular we observe a fish-bone structure on a 10 nm scale. We visualize the orientation of the director both during and after filling the system using the electroconvection pattern. This is a convenient tool for exploring new director configurations. We confirm for the observed surface structure that when flow and surface designate different orientations, the mechanical surface treatment dominates. We have been able to obtain regions with radial director orientation of millimeter size. Such an alignment renders possible new types of electroconvection experiments.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Former Professors > Chair Experimental Physics V - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ingo Rehberg Profile Fields > Advanced Fields > Nonlinear Dynamics Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Chair Experimental Physics V Profile Fields Profile Fields > Advanced Fields Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Department of Physics > Former Professors
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics
Date Deposited:	08 Oct 2018 09:11
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2022 13:44
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/43002