1 |
\chapter{\label{chapt:liquidcrystal}LIQUID CRYSTAL} |
2 |
|
3 |
\section{\label{liquidCrystalSection:introduction}Introduction} |
4 |
|
5 |
Long range orientational order is one of the most fundamental |
6 |
properties of liquid crystal mesophases. This orientational |
7 |
anisotropy of the macroscopic phases originates in the shape |
8 |
anisotropy of the constituent molecules. Among these anisotropy |
9 |
mesogens, rod-like (calamitic) and disk-like molecules have been |
10 |
exploited in great detail in the last two decades\cite{Huh2004}. |
11 |
Typically, these mesogens consist of a rigid aromatic core and one |
12 |
or more attached aliphatic chains. For short chain molecules, only |
13 |
nematic phases, in which positional order is limited or absent, can |
14 |
be observed, because the entropy of mixing different parts of the |
15 |
mesogens is paramount to the dispersion interaction. In contrast, |
16 |
formation of the one dimension lamellar sematic phase in rod-like |
17 |
molecules with sufficiently long aliphatic chains has been reported, |
18 |
as well as the segregation phenomena in disk-like molecules. |
19 |
|
20 |
Recently, the banana-shaped or bent-core liquid crystal have became |
21 |
one of the most active research areas in mesogenic materials and |
22 |
supramolecular chemistry\cite{Niori1996, Link1997, Pelzl1999}. |
23 |
Unlike rods and disks, the polarity and biaxiality of the |
24 |
banana-shaped molecules allow the molecules organize into a variety |
25 |
of novel liquid crystalline phases which show interesting material |
26 |
properties. Of particular interest is the spontaneous formation of |
27 |
macroscopic chiral layers from achiral banana-shaped molecules, |
28 |
where polar molecule orientational ordering is shown within the |
29 |
layer plane as well as the tilted arrangement of the molecules |
30 |
relative to the polar axis. As a consequence of supramolecular |
31 |
chirality, the spontaneous polarization arises in ferroelectric (FE) |
32 |
and antiferroelectic (AF) switching of smectic liquid crystal |
33 |
phases, demonstrating some promising applications in second-order |
34 |
nonlinear optical devices. The most widely investigated mesophase |
35 |
formed by banana-shaped moleculed is the $\text{B}_2$ phase, which |
36 |
is also referred to as $\text{SmCP}$\cite{Link1997}. Of the most |
37 |
important discover in this tilt lamellar phase is the four distinct |
38 |
packing arrangements (two conglomerates and two macroscopic |
39 |
racemates), which depend on the tilt direction and the polar |
40 |
direction of the molecule in adjacent layer (see |
41 |
Fig.~\ref{LCFig:SMCP}). |
42 |
|
43 |
\begin{figure} |
44 |
\centering |
45 |
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{smcp.eps} |
46 |
\caption[] |
47 |
{} |
48 |
\label{LCFig:SMCP} |
49 |
\end{figure} |
50 |
|
51 |
Many liquid crystal synthesis experiments suggest that the |
52 |
occurrence of polarity and chirality strongly relies on the |
53 |
molecular structure and intermolecular interaction\cite{Reddy2006}. |
54 |
From a theoretical point of view, it is of fundamental interest to |
55 |
study the structural properties of liquid crystal phases formed by |
56 |
banana-shaped molecules and understand their connection to the |
57 |
molecular structure, especially with respect to the spontaneous |
58 |
achiral symmetry breaking. As a complementary tool to experiment, |
59 |
computer simulation can provide unique insight into molecular |
60 |
ordering and phase behavior, and hence improve the development of |
61 |
new experiments and theories. In the last two decades, all-atom |
62 |
models have been adopted to investigate the structural properties of |
63 |
smectic arrangements\cite{Cook2000, Lansac2001}, as well as other |
64 |
bulk properties, such as rotational viscosity and flexoelectric |
65 |
coefficients\cite{Cheung2002, Cheung2004}. However, due to the |
66 |
limitation of time scale required for phase transition and the |
67 |
length scale required for representing bulk behavior, |
68 |
models\cite{Perram1985, Gay1981}, which are based on the observation |
69 |
that liquid crystal order is exhibited by a range of non-molecular |
70 |
bodies with high shape anisotropies, became the dominant models in |
71 |
the field of liquid crystal phase behavior. Previous simulation |
72 |
studies using hard spherocylinder dimer model\cite{Camp1999} produce |
73 |
nematic phases, while hard rod simulation studies identified a |
74 |
Landau point\cite{Bates2005}, at which the isotropic phase undergoes |
75 |
a direct transition to the biaxial nematic, as well as some possible |
76 |
liquid crystal phases\cite{Lansac2003}. Other anisotropic models |
77 |
using Gay-Berne(GB) potential, which produce interactions that favor |
78 |
local alignment, give the evidence of the novel packing arrangements |
79 |
of bent-core molecules\cite{Memmer2002,Orlandi2006}. |
80 |
|
81 |
Experimental studies by Levelut {\it et al.}~\cite{Levelut1981} |
82 |
revealed that terminal cyano or nitro groups usually induce |
83 |
permanent longitudinal dipole moments, which affect the phase |
84 |
behavior considerably. A series of theoretical studies also drawn |
85 |
equivalent conclusions. Monte Carlo studies of the GB potential with |
86 |
fixed longitudinal dipoles (i.e. pointed along the principal axis of |
87 |
rotation) were shown to enhance smectic phase |
88 |
stability~\cite{Berardi1996,Satoh1996}. Molecular simulation of GB |
89 |
ellipsoids with transverse dipoles at the terminus of the molecule |
90 |
also demonstrated that partial striped bilayer structures were |
91 |
developed from the smectic phase ~\cite{Berardi1996}. More |
92 |
significant effects have been shown by including multiple |
93 |
electrostatic moments. Adding longitudinal point quadrupole moments |
94 |
to rod-shaped GB mesogens, Withers \textit{et al} induced tilted |
95 |
smectic behaviour in the molecular system~\cite{Withers2003}. Thus, |
96 |
it is clear that many liquid-crystal forming molecules, specially, |
97 |
bent-core molecules, could be modeled more accurately by |
98 |
incorporating electrostatic interaction. |
99 |
|
100 |
In this chapter, we consider system consisting of banana-shaped |
101 |
molecule represented by three rigid GB particles with one or two |
102 |
point dipoles at different location. Performing a series of |
103 |
molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the structural properties |
104 |
of tilted smectic phases as well as the effect of electrostatic |
105 |
interactions. |
106 |
|
107 |
\section{\label{liquidCrystalSection:model}Model} |
108 |
|
109 |
A typical banana-shaped molecule consists of a rigid aromatic |
110 |
central bent unit with several rod-like wings which are held |
111 |
together by some linking units and terminal chains (see |
112 |
Fig.~\ref{LCFig:BananaMolecule}). In this work, each banana-shaped |
113 |
mesogen has been modeled as a rigid body consisting of three |
114 |
equivalent prolate ellipsoidal GB particles. The GB interaction |
115 |
potential used to mimic the apolar characteristics of liquid crystal |
116 |
molecules takes the familiar form of Lennard-Jones function with |
117 |
orientation and position dependent range ($\sigma$) and well depth |
118 |
($\epsilon$) parameters. The potential between a pair of three-site |
119 |
banana-shaped molecules $a$ and $b$ is given by |
120 |
\begin{equation} |
121 |
V_{ab}^{GB} = \sum\limits_{i \in a,j \in b} {V_{ij}^{GB} }. |
122 |
\end{equation} |
123 |
Every site-site interaction can can be expressed as, |
124 |
\begin{equation} |
125 |
V_{ij}^{GB} = 4\epsilon (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ,\hat r_{ij} )\left[ |
126 |
{\left( {\frac{{\sigma _0 }}{{r_{ij} - \sigma (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j |
127 |
,\hat r_{ij} )}}} \right)^{12} - \left( {\frac{{\sigma _0 |
128 |
}}{{r_{ij} - \sigma (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ,\hat r_{ij} )}}} \right)^6 |
129 |
} \right] \label{LCEquation:gb} |
130 |
\end{equation} |
131 |
where $\hat u_i,\hat u_j$ are unit vectors specifying the |
132 |
orientation of two molecules $i$ and $j$ separated by intermolecular |
133 |
vector $r_{ij}$. $\hat r_{ij}$ is the unit vector along the |
134 |
intermolecular vector. A schematic diagram of the orientation |
135 |
vectors is shown in Fig.\ref{LCFigure:GBScheme}. The functional form |
136 |
for $\sigma$ is given by |
137 |
\begin{equation} |
138 |
\sigma (\hat u_i ,\hat u_i ,\hat r_{ij} ) = \sigma _0 \left[ {1 - |
139 |
\frac{\chi }{2}\left( {\frac{{(\hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_i + \hat |
140 |
r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_j )^2 }}{{1 + \chi \hat u_i \cdot \hat u_j }} |
141 |
+ \frac{{(\hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_i - \hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_j |
142 |
)^2 }}{{1 - \chi \hat u_i \cdot \hat u_j }}} \right)} \right]^{ - |
143 |
\frac{1}{2}}, |
144 |
\end{equation} |
145 |
where the aspect ratio of the particles is governed by shape |
146 |
anisotropy parameter |
147 |
\begin{equation} |
148 |
\chi = \frac{{(\sigma _e /\sigma _s )^2 - 1}}{{(\sigma _e /\sigma |
149 |
_s )^2 + 1}}. |
150 |
\label{LCEquation:chi} |
151 |
\end{equation} |
152 |
Here, $\sigma_ s$ and $\sigma_{e}$ refer to the side-by-side breadth |
153 |
and the end-to-end length of the ellipsoid, respectively. The well |
154 |
depth parameters takes the form |
155 |
\begin{equation} |
156 |
\epsilon (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ,\hat r_{ij} ) = \epsilon _0 \epsilon |
157 |
^v (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j )\epsilon '^\mu (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ,\hat |
158 |
r_{ij} ) |
159 |
\end{equation} |
160 |
where $\epsilon_{0}$ is a constant term and |
161 |
\begin{equation} |
162 |
\epsilon (\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ) = \frac{1}{{\sqrt {1 - \chi ^2 (\hat |
163 |
u_i \cdot \hat u_j )^2 } }} |
164 |
\end{equation} |
165 |
and |
166 |
\begin{equation} |
167 |
\epsilon '(\hat u_i ,\hat u_j ,\hat r_{ij} ) = 1 - \frac{{\chi |
168 |
'}}{2}\left[ {\frac{{(\hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_i + \hat r_{ij} |
169 |
\cdot \hat u_j )^2 }}{{1 + \chi '\hat u_i \cdot \hat u_j }} + |
170 |
\frac{{(\hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_i - \hat r_{ij} \cdot \hat u_j |
171 |
)^2 }}{{1 - \chi '\hat u_i \cdot \hat u_j }}} \right] |
172 |
\end{equation} |
173 |
where the well depth anisotropy parameter $\chi '$ depends on the |
174 |
ratio between \textit{end-to-end} well depth $\epsilon _e$ and |
175 |
\textit{side-by-side} well depth $\epsilon_s$, |
176 |
\begin{equation} |
177 |
\chi ' = \frac{{1 - (\epsilon _e /\epsilon _s )^{1/\mu} }}{{1 + |
178 |
(\epsilon _e /\epsilon _s )^{1/\mu} }}. |
179 |
\end{equation} |
180 |
|
181 |
\begin{figure} |
182 |
\centering |
183 |
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{banana.eps} |
184 |
\caption[]{} \label{LCFig:BananaMolecule} |
185 |
\end{figure} |
186 |
|
187 |
%\begin{figure} |
188 |
%\centering |
189 |
%\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{bananGB.eps} |
190 |
%\caption[]{} \label{LCFigure:BananaGB} |
191 |
%\end{figure} |
192 |
|
193 |
\begin{figure} |
194 |
\centering |
195 |
\includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{gb_scheme.eps} |
196 |
\caption[]{Schematic diagram showing definitions of the orientation |
197 |
vectors for a pair of Gay-Berne molecules} |
198 |
\label{LCFigure:GBScheme} |
199 |
\end{figure} |
200 |
|
201 |
To account for the permanent dipolar interactions, there should be |
202 |
an electrostatic interaction term of the form |
203 |
\begin{equation} |
204 |
V_{ab}^{dp} = \sum\limits_{i \in a,j \in b} {\frac{1}{{4\pi |
205 |
\epsilon _{fs} }}\left[ {\frac{{\mu _i \cdot \mu _j }}{{r_{ij}^3 }} |
206 |
- \frac{{3\left( {\mu _i \cdot r_{ij} } \right)\left( {\mu _i \cdot |
207 |
r_{ij} } \right)}}{{r_{ij}^5 }}} \right]} |
208 |
\end{equation} |
209 |
where $\epsilon _{fs}$ is the permittivity of free space. |
210 |
|
211 |
\section{Computational Methodology} |
212 |
|
213 |
A series of molecular dynamics simulations were perform to study the |
214 |
phase behavior of banana shaped liquid crystals. |
215 |
|
216 |
In each simulation, rod-like polar molecules have been represented |
217 |
by polar ellipsoidal Gay-Berne (GB) particles. The four parameters |
218 |
characterizing G-B potential were taken as $\mu = 1,~ \nu = 2, |
219 |
~\epsilon_{e}/\epsilon_{s} |
220 |
= 1/5$ and $\sigma_{e}/\sigma_{s} = 3$. The components of the |
221 |
scaled moment of inertia $(I^{*} = I/m \sigma_{s}^{2})$ along the |
222 |
major and minor axes were $I_{z}^{*} = 0.2$ and $I_{\perp}^{*} = |
223 |
1.0$. We used the reduced dipole moments $ \mu^{*} = \mu/(4 \pi |
224 |
\epsilon_{fs} \sigma_{0}^{3})^{1/2}= 1.0$ for terminal dipole and |
225 |
$ \mu^{*} = \mu/(4 |
226 |
\pi \epsilon_{fs} \sigma_{0}^{3})^{1/2}= 0.5$ for second dipole, |
227 |
where $\epsilon_{fs}$ was the permitivitty of free space. For all |
228 |
simulations the position of the terminal dipole |
229 |
has been kept |
230 |
at a fixed distance $d^{*} = d/\sigma_{s} = 1.0 $ from the |
231 |
centre of mass on the molecular symmetry axis. The second dipole |
232 |
takes $d^{*} = d/\sigma_{s} = 0.0 $ i.e. it is on the centre of |
233 |
mass. To investigate the molecular organization behaviour due to |
234 |
different dipolar orientation with respect to the symmetry axis, we |
235 |
selected dipolar angle $\alpha_{d} = 0$ to model terminal outward |
236 |
longitudinal dipole and $\alpha_{d} = \pi/2$ to model transverse |
237 |
outward dipole where the second dipole takes relative anti |
238 |
antiparallel orientation with respect to the first. System of |
239 |
molecules having a single transverse terminal dipole has also been |
240 |
studied. We ran a series of simulations to investigate the effect of |
241 |
dipoles on molecular organization. |
242 |
|
243 |
In each of the simulations 864 molecules were confined in a cubic |
244 |
box with periodic boundary conditions. The run started from a |
245 |
density $\rho^{*} = \rho \sigma_{0}^{3}$ = 0.01 with nonpolar |
246 |
molecules loacted on the sites of FCC lattice and having parallel |
247 |
orientation. This structure was not a stable structure at this |
248 |
density and it was melted at a reduced temperature $T^{*} = k_{B}T/ |
249 |
\epsilon_{0} = 4.0$ . We used this isotropic configuration which was |
250 |
both orientationally and translationally disordered, as the initial |
251 |
configuration for each simulation. The dipoles were also switched on |
252 |
from this point. Initial translational and angular velocities were |
253 |
assigned from the gaussian distribution of velocities. |
254 |
|
255 |
To get the ordered structure for each system of particular dipolar |
256 |
angles we increased the density from $\rho^{*} = 0.01$ to $\rho_{*} |
257 |
= 0.3$ with an increament size of 0.002 upto $\rho^{*} = 0.1$ and |
258 |
0.01 for the rest at some higher temperature. Temperature was then |
259 |
lowered in finer steps to avoid ending up with disordered glass |
260 |
phase and thus to help the molecules set with more order. For each |
261 |
system this process required altogether $5 \times 10^{6}$ MC cycles |
262 |
for equilibration. |
263 |
|
264 |
The torques and forces were calculated using velocity verlet |
265 |
algorithm. The time step size $\delta t^{*} = \delta t/(m |
266 |
\sigma_{0}^{2} / \epsilon_{0})^{1/2}$ was set at 0.0012 during the |
267 |
process. The orientations of molecules were described by quaternions |
268 |
instead of Eulerian angles to get the singularity-free orientational |
269 |
equations of motion. |
270 |
|
271 |
The interaction potential was truncated at a cut-off radius $r_{c} = |
272 |
3.8 \sigma_{0}$. The long range dipole-dipole interaction potential |
273 |
and torque were handled by the application of reaction field method |
274 |
~\cite{Allen87}. |
275 |
|
276 |
To investigate the phase structure of the model liquid crystal |
277 |
family we calculated the orientational order parameter, correlation |
278 |
functions. To identify a particular phase we took configurational |
279 |
snapshots at the onset of each layered phase. |
280 |
|
281 |
The orientational order parameter for uniaxial phase was calculated |
282 |
from the largest eigen value obtained by diagonalization of the |
283 |
order parameter tensor |
284 |
|
285 |
\begin{equation} |
286 |
\begin{array}{lr} |
287 |
Q_{\alpha \beta} = \frac{1}{2 N} \sum(3 e_{i \alpha} e_{i \beta} |
288 |
- \delta_{\alpha \beta}) & \alpha, \beta = x,y,z \\ |
289 |
\end{array} |
290 |
\end{equation} |
291 |
|
292 |
where $e_{i \alpha}$ was the $\alpha$ th component of the unit |
293 |
vector $e_{i}$ along the symmetry axis of the i th molecule. |
294 |
Corresponding eigenvector gave the director which defines the |
295 |
average direction of molecular alignment. |
296 |
|
297 |
The density correlation along the director is $g(z) = < \delta |
298 |
(z-z_{ij})>_{ij} / \pi R^{2} \rho $, where $z_{ij} = r_{ij} cos |
299 |
\beta_{r_{ij}}$ was measured in the director frame and $R$ is the |
300 |
radius of the cylindrical sampling region. |
301 |
|
302 |
|
303 |
\section{Results and Conclusion} |
304 |
\label{sec:results and conclusion} |
305 |
|
306 |
Analysis of the simulation results shows that relative dipolar |
307 |
orientation angle of the molecules can give rise to rich |
308 |
polymorphism of polar mesophases. |
309 |
|
310 |
The correlation function g(z) shows layering along perpendicular |
311 |
direction to the plane for a system of G-B molecules with two |
312 |
transverse outward pointing dipoles in fig. \ref{fig:1}. Both the |
313 |
correlation plot and the snapshot (fig. \ref{fig:4}) of their |
314 |
organization indicate a bilayer phase. Snapshot for larger system of |
315 |
1372 molecules also confirms bilayer structure (Fig. \ref{fig:7}). |
316 |
Fig. \ref{fig:2} shows g(z) for a system of molecules having two |
317 |
antiparallel longitudinal dipoles and the snapshot of their |
318 |
organization shows a monolayer phase (Fig. \ref{fig:5}). Fig. |
319 |
\ref{fig:3} gives g(z) for a system of G-B molecules with single |
320 |
transverse outward pointing dipole and fig. \ref{fig:6} gives the |
321 |
snapshot. Their organization is like a wavy antiphase (stripe |
322 |
domain). Fig. \ref{fig:8} gives the snapshot for 1372 molecules |
323 |
with single transverse dipole near the end of the molecule. |
324 |
|
325 |
\begin{figure} |
326 |
\begin{center} |
327 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig1.ps} |
328 |
\end{center} |
329 |
\caption { Density projection of molecular centres (solid) and |
330 |
terminal dipoles (broken) with respect to the director g(z) for a |
331 |
system of G-B molecules with two transverse outward pointing |
332 |
dipoles, the first dipole having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ and the |
333 |
second dipole having $d^{*}=0.0$, $\mu^{*}=0.5$} \label{fig:1} |
334 |
\end{figure} |
335 |
|
336 |
|
337 |
\begin{figure} |
338 |
\begin{center} |
339 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig2.ps} |
340 |
\end{center} |
341 |
\caption { Density projection of molecular centres (solid) and |
342 |
terminal dipoles (broken) with respect to the director g(z) for a |
343 |
system of G-B molecules with two antiparallel longitudinal dipoles, |
344 |
the first outward pointing dipole having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ |
345 |
and the second dipole having $d^{*}=0.0$, $\mu^{*}=0.5$} |
346 |
\label{fig:2} |
347 |
\end{figure} |
348 |
|
349 |
\begin{figure} |
350 |
\begin{center} |
351 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig3.ps} |
352 |
\end{center} |
353 |
\caption {Density projection of molecular centres (solid) and |
354 |
terminal |
355 |
dipoles (broken) with respect to the director g(z) |
356 |
for a system of G-B molecules with single transverse outward |
357 |
pointing dipole, having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$} \label{fig:3} |
358 |
\end{figure} |
359 |
|
360 |
\begin{figure} |
361 |
\centering \epsfxsize=2.5in \epsfbox{fig4.eps} \caption{Typical |
362 |
configuration for a system of 864 G-B molecules with two transverse |
363 |
dipoles, the first dipole having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ and the |
364 |
second dipole having $d^{*}=0.0$, $\mu^{*}=0.5$. The white caps |
365 |
indicate the location of the terminal dipole, while the orientation |
366 |
of the dipoles is indicated by the blue/gold coloring.} |
367 |
\label{fig:4} |
368 |
\end{figure} |
369 |
|
370 |
\begin{figure} |
371 |
\begin{center} |
372 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig5.ps} |
373 |
\end{center} |
374 |
\caption {Snapshot of molecular configuration for a system of 864 |
375 |
G-B molecules with two antiparallel longitudinal dipoles, the first |
376 |
outward pointing dipole |
377 |
having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ and the second dipole having $d^{*}=0.0$, |
378 |
$\mu^{*}=0.5$ (fine lines are molecular symmetry axes and small |
379 |
thick lines show terminal dipolar direction, central dipoles are not |
380 |
shown).} \label{fig:5} |
381 |
\end{figure} |
382 |
|
383 |
|
384 |
\begin{figure} |
385 |
\begin{center} |
386 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig6.ps} |
387 |
\end{center} |
388 |
\caption {Snapshot of molecular configuration for a system of 864 |
389 |
G-B molecules with single transverse outward pointing dipole, having |
390 |
$d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ (fine lines are molecular symmetry axes |
391 |
and small thick lines show terminal dipolar direction).} |
392 |
\label{fig:6} |
393 |
\end{figure} |
394 |
|
395 |
\begin{figure} |
396 |
\begin{center} |
397 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig7.ps} |
398 |
\end{center} |
399 |
\caption {Snapshot of molecular configuration for a system of 1372 |
400 |
G-B molecules with two transverse outward pointing dipoles, the |
401 |
first dipole having $d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ and the second dipole |
402 |
having $d^{*}=0.0$, $\mu^{*}=0.5$(fine lines are molecular symmetry |
403 |
axes and small thick lines show terminal dipolar direction, central |
404 |
dipoles are not shown).} \label{fig:7} |
405 |
\end{figure} |
406 |
|
407 |
\begin{figure} |
408 |
\begin{center} |
409 |
\epsfxsize=3in \epsfbox{fig8.ps} |
410 |
\end{center} |
411 |
\caption {Snapshot of molecular configuration for a system of 1372 |
412 |
G-B molecules with single transverse outward pointing dipole, having |
413 |
$d^{*}=1.0$, $\mu^{*}=1.0$ (fine lines are molecular symmetry axes |
414 |
and small thick lines show terminal dipolar direction).} |
415 |
\label{fig:8} |
416 |
\end{figure} |
417 |
|
418 |
Starting from an isotropic configuaration of polar Gay-Berne |
419 |
molecules, we could successfully simulate perfect bilayer, antiphase |
420 |
and monolayer structure. To break the up-down symmetry i.e. the |
421 |
nonequivalence of directions ${\bf \hat {n}}$ and ${ -\bf \hat{n}}$, |
422 |
the molecules should have permanent electric or magnetic dipoles. |
423 |
Longitudinal electric dipole interaction could not form polar |
424 |
nematic phase as orientationally disordered phase with larger |
425 |
entropy is stabler than polarly ordered phase. In fact, stronger |
426 |
central dipole moment opposes polar nematic ordering more |
427 |
effectively in case of rod-like molecules. However, polar ordering |
428 |
like bilayer $A_{2}$, interdigitated $A_{d}$, and wavy $\tilde A$ in |
429 |
smectic layers can be achieved, where adjacent layers with opposite |
430 |
polarities makes bulk phase a-polar. More so, lyotropic liquid |
431 |
crystals and bilayer bio-membranes can have polar layers. These |
432 |
arrangements appear to get favours with the shifting of longitudinal |
433 |
dipole moment to the molecular terminus, so that they can have |
434 |
anti-ferroelectric dipolar arrangement giving rise to local (within |
435 |
the sublayer) breaking of up-down symmetry along the director. |
436 |
Transverse polarity breaks two-fold rotational symmetry, which |
437 |
favours more in-plane polar order. However, the molecular origin of |
438 |
these phases requires something more which are apparent from the |
439 |
earlier simulation results. We have shown that to get perfect |
440 |
bilayer structure in a G-B system, alongwith transverse terminal |
441 |
dipole, another central dipole (or a polarizable core) is required |
442 |
so that polar head and a-polar tail of Gay-Berne molecules go to |
443 |
opposite directions within a bilayer. This gives some kind of |
444 |
clipping interactions which forbid the molecular tail go in other |
445 |
way. Moreover, we could simulate other varieties of polar smectic |
446 |
phases e.g. monolayer $A_{1}$, antiphase $\tilde A$ successfully. |
447 |
Apart from guiding chemical synthesization of ferroelectric, |
448 |
antiferroelectric liquid crystals for technological applications, |
449 |
the present study will be of scientific interest in understanding |
450 |
molecular level interactions of lyotropic liquid crystals as well as |
451 |
nature-designed bio-membranes. |
452 |
|
453 |
\section{\label{liquidCrystalSection:methods}Methods} |
454 |
|
455 |
\section{\label{liquidCrystalSection:resultDiscussion}Results and Discussion} |
456 |
|
457 |
\section{Conclusion} |