Liquid Crystals

Danielle Williams
Dept of Physics
University of Texas at Arlington
 Introduction
• Liquid crystals are very important in the study of optics,
chemistry and polymer science. The discovery of the
liquid crystal happened over a century and since this time
the phenomena has been applied to many products in our
society. This presentation will cover the properties,
different phases and uses of liquid crystals. It will also
give illustrations of liquid crystals from the micro
perspective.
 What are liquid crystals ?
Liquid crystals form from organic compounds and is
thought of as the phase of matter between the solid and
liquid state of a crystal.This phenomena was discovered in
1888 by Austrian chemist Frederich Reinitzer.
Phases
 Nematic Phase

• Molecules in this
phase are long and
rod-like in shape.
They are free to move
in space.
Chiral Nematic
• This phase is
composed of nematic
molecules in a helical
structure about the
layer normal.
• The distance that it
takes for the molecules
to complete one turn is
called the pitch.
λ = n*p*cosθ
 Smectic Phase
• This phase can be
reached at lower
temperatures than the
nematic phase.
• Molecules align
themselves in layers.
(They are restricted to
their plane.)
• More order and higher
viscosity
 Columnar Phase
• Characterized by its stacked columns of
molecules.
• Discovered in 1977 by Chandrasekhar
 Order Parameter
S = ½<(3cos²θ-1)>
The order parameter in a liquid crystal
range from 0.3 to 0.9
 Electric field Effects
• If an electric field is
applied to a liquid
crystal the molecules
will align in the same
direction as the field.
Twisted Nematic
• This is called the
twisted nematic liquid
crystal and the spacing
between the planes
change with
temperature. The
spacing is associated
with the wavelengths
of light.
 Uses of Liquid Crystals
• Flat screen television
• Wristwatches
• Laptop screens
• Digital clocks
• Thermometers
• Switchable windows
 Conclusion
• We know today that many chemical compounds
can exist in the liquid crystal state, such as
cholesteryl benzoate. Thanks to the scientists that
worked so diligently toward understanding this
phenomenon, the world can focus on ways to make
this product useful in society. Over the last century
many applications such as the detection of hot
points in microcircuits, the findings of fractures or
tumors in humans and the conversion of infared
images have become accessible due to the
understanding of pitch in a liquid crystal.
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