Nematic braids: 2D entangled nematic liquid crystal colloids

Abstract

Assembly of several entangled clusters and 2D colloidal crystals is demonstrated in nematic solvents using numerical modeling based on Landau–de Gennes free energy. Micron-sized particles that build novel topological objects are bound by delocalized disclination loops of various conformations. The metastable defect conformations are accessed via numerical temperature quenching from the isotropic to nematic phase. Equilibration of entangled structures with respect to liquid crystalline and particles' degrees of freedom is demonstrated. Finally, possible experimental approaches towards periodic entangled colloidal crystals are briefly addressed.