Journal Article

PUBDB-2018-01139

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Quantized Self-Assembly of Discotic Rings in a Liquid Crystal Confined in Nanopores

Sentker, K.Extern* ; Zantop, A. W. ; Lippmann, M.DESY* ; Hofmann, T.Extern* ; Seeck, O.DESY* ; Kityk, A. V. ; Yildirim, A. ; Schönhals, A. ; Mazza, M. G. ; Huber, P. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2018
APS College Park, Md.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.067801  doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2018-01139

Abstract: Disklike molecules with aromatic cores spontaneously stack up in linear columns with high, one-dimensional charge carrier mobilities along the columnar axes, making them prominent model systems for functional, self-organized matter. We show by high-resolution optical birefringence and synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction that confining a thermotropic discotic liquid crystal in cylindrical nanopores induces a quantized formation of annular layers consisting of concentric circular bent columns, unknown in the bulk state. Starting from the walls this ring self-assembly propagates layer by layer towards the pore center in the supercooled domain of the bulk isotropic-columnar transition and thus allows one to switch on and off reversibly single, nanosized rings through small temperature variations. By establishing a Gibbs free energy phase diagram we trace the phase transition quantization to the discreteness of the layers’ excess bend deformation energies in comparison to the thermal energy, even for this near room-temperature system. Monte Carlo simulations yielding spatially resolved nematic order parameters, density maps, and bond-orientational order parameters corroborate the universality and robustness of the confinement-induced columnar ring formation as well as its quantized nature.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. DOOR-User (DOOR)
2. Experimentebetreuung PETRA III (FS-PE)
3. FS-Arbeitsgruppe (FS-TI)

Research Program(s):

1. 6214 - Nanoscience and Materials for Information Technology (POF3-621) (POF3-621)
2. 6G3 - PETRA III (POF3-622) (POF3-622)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P08 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2018

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Database coverage:
; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Ebsco Academic Search ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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