Kent State University

Qi-Huo Wei

Oleg D Lavrentovich

Yubing Guo

Chenhui Peng

Miao Jiang

Hao Yu

Sergij V Shiyanovskii

Kai Sun

Taras Turiv

A method for aligning molecular orientations of liquid crystals and/or polymeric materials into spatially variant patterns uses metamasks. When non-polarized or circularly polarized light is transmitted through or reflected by the metamasks, spatially varied polarization direction and intensity patterns of light can be generated. By projecting the optical patterns of the metamasks onto substrates coated with photoalignment materials, spatially variant molecular orientations encoded in the polarization and intensity patterns are induced in the photoalignment materials, and transfer into the liquid crystals. Possible designs for the metamask use nanostructures of metallic materials.

Photopatterning of molecular orientations

A method for aligning molecular orientations of liquid crystals and/or polymeric materials into spatially variant patterns uses metamasks. When non-polarized or circularly polarized light is transmitted through or reflected by the metamasks, spatially varied polarization direction and intensity patterns of light can be generated. By projecting the optical patterns of the metamasks onto substrates coated with photoalignment materials, spatially variant molecular orientations encoded in the polarization and intensity patterns are induced in the photoalignment materials, and transfer into the liquid crystals. Possible designs for the metamask use nanostructures of metallic materials (e.g., rectangular nanocuboids of metallic materials arrayed on a transparent substrate).

A method for controlling self-propelled particles includes providing the particles to a liquid crystalline medium having predesigned local ordering. The method may control at least one of: a local concentration, trajectory, and net flow of self-propelled particles.

Command of active matter by topological defects and patterns

A transport device comprises: a fluid cell comprising parallel substrates; an anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell; and electrodes configured to apply an AC electric field to the anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell. A substrate of the fluid cell includes a pattern that induces a director distortion pattern in the anisotropic electrolyte disposed in the fluid cell. The director distortion pattern has a gradient configured to induce electrokinetic flow of the anisotropic electrolyte in the fluid cell in response to the AC electric field applied by the electrodes. Cargo, such as particles, gas bubbles, or fluid, is dispersed in the anisotropic electrolyte and transported in the fluid cell by the induced electrokinetic flow of the anisotropic electrolyte. The induced electrokinetic flow may be linear, curvilinear, circular so as to induce mixing, depending on the predesigned director pattern. The director pattern might be nonsingular (defect free) or may contain defects such as disclinations that produce pumping effects and can trap cargo at a core of the disclination.

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Hudson, OH, United States of America

Qi-Huo Wei