Boundary and size effects in chromonic liquid crystal emulsions

Abstract

Liquid crystals (LCs) are unique states of matter that exhibit both liquid and crystal properties. From the 19th century until now, extensive research has been carried out to understand and take advantage of the fascinating properties of liquid crystals. An intriguing subclass of liquid crystals is the lyotropic chromonic liquid crystal (LCLC). Unlike thermotropic liquid crystals as 5CB, which form through temperature changes, LCLCs are formed when certain organic molecules, known as chromonic dyes, are dissolved in solvents such as water. These LCLCs exhibit a rich variety of phase behavior and unique optical properties, making them of great interest to various applications, including screens, sensors, and biomedical devices. One of the most famous LCLC is Sunset Yellow (SSY). To Describe the confinement of 5CB and SSY and observe phenomena such as the boundary effects in emulsified droplets will be one of the aims of our work. In order to form the emulsions, microfluidic systems will be used. They use small channels and precise control of fluid flows to create well-defined structures and patterns of liquid crystals. This approach offers several advantages, such as high performance, precise control of the size and shape of droplets, and the ability to create complex geometries. Once the emulsions are generated, we will study the properties of confined LCs in droplets and their behavior in front of an external magnetic field.