Ravnik Miha, Everts Jeffrey C
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Phys Rev Lett. 2020 Jul 17;125(3):037801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.037801.
We show that topological defects in an ion-doped nematic liquid crystal can be used to manipulate the surface charge distribution on chemically homogeneous, charge-regulating external surfaces, using a minimal theoretical model. In particular, the location and type of the defect encodes the precise distribution of surface charges and the effect is enhanced when the liquid crystal is flexoelectric. We demonstrate the principle for patterned surfaces and charged colloidal spheres. More generally, our results indicate an interesting approach to control surface charges on external surfaces without changing the surface chemistry.
我们使用一个极简理论模型表明，离子掺杂向列相液晶中的拓扑缺陷可用于操纵化学均匀、电荷调节的外表面上的表面电荷分布。特别是，缺陷的位置和类型编码了表面电荷的精确分布，并且当液晶具有挠曲电性质时，这种效应会增强。我们展示了图案化表面和带电胶体球的原理。更一般地说，我们的结果表明了一种在不改变表面化学性质的情况下控制外表面电荷的有趣方法。
