Liquid crystal phases in confined geometries

ABSTRACT

The orientation control of liquid crystal (LC) phases is essential for fundamental studies as well as practical applications. Surface treatment and topographic confinement have emerged as two of the most effective tools to control ordering and orientation of various types of LC phases. This review is intended to give an overview of the LC phases controlled in confined geometries at micro- and nanometre scales, in which the orientation control methods and the effective analytical techniques will be covered. Finally, the review closes with the applications using such confined LC phases.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Liquid crystal phases
• orientation control
• surface treatment
• confined geometries

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF), funded by the Korean government [2014S1A2A2027911 and 2015R1A1A1A05000986].