Journal
LIQUID CRYSTALS
Volume 49, Issue 4, Pages 580-588Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/02678292.2021.1991016
Keywords
Liquid crystal; topological defect; micro-fabrication; surface treatment
Funding
- Institute of Science and Engineering, Chuo University
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A new method has been developed to prepare topological defects in liquid crystals, creating multiple topological surface defects with high reproducibility in micro-well structures.
Topological defects in liquid crystals (LCs) have drawn attention because they frequently control their collective structure and motion. We have developed a robust and straightforward methodology to prepare well-organised isolated topological defects using the fabrication of micro-well structures. We could prepare multiple topological surface defects in each micro-well with high reproducibility. The micro-wells were prepared by capping a glass substrate on micro-molded polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The topological defects were stabilised by optimising the size and the shape and satisfying the boundary conditions inside each micro-well, which was controlled by the air-plasma treatment on the surfaces. We found the optimal conditions for the reproducible and stable formation of topological defects; a circular shape with its diameter <10 mu m and the glass surface was treated by air-plasma, providing a proper balance of the elastic force to form topological defect at the centre.
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