Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals

Series:
Published:
Author(s):

Purchasing Options

Hardback
$189.95
Add to cart
ISBN 9780849335846
Cat# 3584
 

Features

  • Delineates the complete theory for the ionic adsorption in isotropic liquids and the importance of the phenomenon in the field of liquid crystals
  • Uses a logical, gradient approach to explain adsorption phenomena and provides the necessary background material to support the reader's understanding of the text
  • Presents theoretical as well as experimental approaches to handling interfaces in condensed media
  • Discusses the role of the ions in the impedance spectroscopy of a cell
  • Focuses on liquid crystal systems but presents general results for other systems present in electrochemistry and solid state chemistry
  • Summary

    Despite the large quantity of phenomenological information concerning the bulk properties of nematic phase liquid crystals, little is understood about the origin of the surface energy, particularly the surface, interfacial, and anchoring properties of liquid crystals that affect the performance of liquid crystal devices. Self-contained and unique, Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals provides an account of new and established results spanning three decades of research into the problems of anchoring energy and adsorption phenomena in liquid crystals.

    The book contains a detailed discussion of the origin and possible sources of anchoring energy in nematic liquid crystals, emphasizing the dielectric contribution to the anchoring energy in particular. Beginning with fundamental surface and anchoring properties of liquid crystals and the definition of the nematic phase, the authors explain how selective ion adsorption, dielectric energy density, thickness dependence, and bias voltage dependence influence the uniform alignment of liquid crystals and affect the performance of liquid crystal devices. They also discuss fundamental equations regulating the adsorption phenomenon and the dynamic aspects of ion adsorption phenomenon in liquid crystalline systems.

    Adsorption Phenomena and Anchoring Energy in Nematic Liquid Crystals serves as an excellent source of reference for graduates and researchers working in liquid crystals, complex fluids, condensed matter physics, statistical physics, chemical engineering, and electronic engineering, as well as providing a useful general introduction to and background information on the nematic liquid crystal phase.

    Table of Contents

    NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS: FUNDAMENTALS AND BULK PROPERTIES
    Nematic Order Parameters
    Maier-Saupe Approach for the Nematic-Isotropic Phase Transition
    Continuum Description of the Nematic Phase
    External Field Contribution to the Elastic Energy Density
    Equilbrium Configuration in Strong and Weak Anchoring Situations

    NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS: SURFACE PROPERTIES
    Anchoring
    The Anchoring Energy Function
    Periodic Deformations in Nematic Liquid Crystals
    Spontaneous Periodic Distortions in Nematic Liquid Crystals: Dependence on the Tilt Angle
    Theoretical Models for the Surface Free Energy
    Stochastic Contribution to the Anchoring Energy: Deviation from the Rapini-Papolar Expression
    Validity of the Elastic Model for Nematic Surface Anchoring Energy
    Contribution of the Smectic-Nematic to the Surface Energy

    TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF THE SURFACE FREE ENERGY
    Thermal Relaxation Model of Surface Director Gliding in Lyotropic Liquid Crystals
    Thermal Renormalization of the Anchoring Energy
    Temperature Induced Surface Transition in Nematic Liquid Crystals Oriented by Evaporated SiOx
    A Local Self-Consistent Approach to the Phase Transition at the Nematic Liquid Crystal - Wall Interface

    SURFACE ADSORPTION OF PARTICLES: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
    Introduction
    Statement of the Problem: Langmuir's Isotherm
    Surface Adsorption and Anchoring Transition
    Photo-Manipulation of the Anchoring Strength of Photochromic Nematic Liquid Crystal
    Adsorption of Magnetic Grains in Magnetic Fluids
    Selective Ionic Adsorption in Liquid Crystals

    SURFACE ELECTRIC FIELD-INDUCED INSTABILITIES IN NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS SAMPLE
    The General Electrostatic Model
    Analysis I: Variation Solution of the Eigenvalue Problem
    Analysis II: Series Solution of the Eigenvalue Problem
    Role of the Elastic Term Linear in the Spatial Derivatives of the Nematic Director in a 1D Geometry
    Conclusions

    IONS AND NEMATIC SURFACE ENERGY: BEYOND THE EXPONENTIAL APPROXIMATION FOR THE ELECTRIC FIELD OF IONIC ORIGIN
    Introduction
    Theoretical Model: Non-Linear Poisson-Boltzman Equation
    External Electric Field Effect in the Nematic Anchoring Energy
    Contribution to the Surface Energy of Dielectric Origin
    Conclusions

    ADSORPTION PHENOMENON AND EXTERNAL FIELD EFFECT ON AN ISOTROPIC LIQUID CONTAINING IMPURITIES
    Introduction
    The Model
    The Charge and Field Distributions
    Ionic Adsorption in the Absence of External Equilibrium Distribution of Charges
    Extensions of the Model
    Influence of the Adsorption Energy in the Dieletric Contribution to the Anchoring Energy

    FERMILIKE DESCRIPTION OF THE ADSORPTION PHENOMENON
    Introduction
    The Fermi-Like Model
    Application: Ion Adsorption in Isotropic Fluids
    Limits
    Numerical Results
    Conclusions

    Editorial Reviews

    "...researchers working in the field of surface phenomena of liquid crystals and in related fields will benefit from the book as a source of reference as well as an extensive theoretical treatment of anchoring and the effects of ionic adsorption. For graduate students with some background in theoretical physics it serves as a comprehensive introduction to anchoring and adsorption in nematic liquid crystals."
    - Dr. Christian Bahr, ChemPhysChem, 2006

    Related Titles