Shape of an isotropic droplet in a nematic liquid crystal: The role of surfactant

LISHCHUK, S. V. and CARE, C. M. (2004). Shape of an isotropic droplet in a nematic liquid crystal: The role of surfactant. Physical review E (statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics), 70 (1), 11702-1.

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Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.011702

Abstract

We investigate theoretically, and numerically, the shape of a droplet of an isotropic fluid immersed in a nematic liquid crystal in the presence of an interfacial layer of surfactant; the droplet size is assumed to be small compared to the extrapolation length of the nematic and homeotropic alignment is favored by the anchoring energy at the nematic-isotropic interface. In a certain range of droplet sizes, the droplets are found to be lens shaped with the rotation axis aligned along the imposed director field and the aspect ratio dependent upon the ratio of anchoring strength and surface tension coefficients. For anchoring strengths large compared to the surface tension, the curvature of the edge of lens is controlled by the bending rigidity of surfactant.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: ©2004 The American Physical Society
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Materials and Engineering Research Institute > Modelling Research Centre > Materials Modelling group
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.70.011702
Page Range: 11702-1
Depositing User: Ann Betterton
Date Deposited: 22 Oct 2007
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 21:31
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/875

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