Chiral ground states of ferroelectric liquid crystals

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kumari, Priyanka; Basnet, Bijaya; Lavrentovich, Maxim O.; Lavrentovich, Oleg D.
• 署名单位: University System of Ohio; Kent State University; Kent State University Kent; Kent State University Salem; University System of Ohio; Kent State University; Kent State University Salem; Kent State University Kent; Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education; Worcester State University; University of Tennessee System; University of Tennessee Knoxville; University System of Ohio; Kent State University; Kent State University Salem; Kent State University Kent
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-10208
• DOI: 10.1126/science.adl0834
• 发表日期: 2024-03-22
• 页码: 1364-1368
• 关键词: breaking; surface

摘要

Ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals are formed by achiral molecules with large dipole moments. Theirthree-dimensional orientational order is described as unidirectionally polar. We demonstrate thatthe ground state of a flat slab of a ferroelectric nematic unconstrained by externally imposedalignment directions is chiral, with left- and right-handed twists of polarization. Although the helicoidaldeformations and defect walls that separate domains of opposite handedness increase the elasticenergy, the twists reduce the electrostatic energy and become weaker when the material is dopedwith ions. This work shows that the polar orientational order of molecules could trigger chiralityin soft matter with no chemically induced chiral centers.