Issue 38, 2022

Toroidal nuclei of columnar lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals coexisting with an isotropic phase

Abstract

Nuclei of ordered materials emerging from the isotropic state usually show a shape topologically equivalent to a sphere; the well-known examples are crystals and nematic liquid crystal droplets. In this work, we explore experimentally and theoretically the toroidal in shape nuclei of columnar lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals coexisting with the isotropic phase. The geometry of these toroids depends strongly on concentrations of the disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) and the crowding agent, polyethylene glycol (PEG). High concentrations of DSCG and PEG result in thick toroids with small central holes, while low concentrations yield thin toroids with wide holes. The multitude of the observed shapes is explained by the balance of bending elasticity and anisotropic interfacial tension.

Graphical abstract: Toroidal nuclei of columnar lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals coexisting with an isotropic phase

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Mai 2022
Accepted
26 Jul 2022
First published
29 Jul 2022

Soft Matter, 2022,18, 7258-7268

Author version available

Toroidal nuclei of columnar lyotropic chromonic liquid crystals coexisting with an isotropic phase

R. Koizumi, D. Golovaty, A. Alqarni, S. W. Walker, Y. A. Nastishin, M. C. Calderer and O. D. Lavrentovich, Soft Matter, 2022, 18, 7258 DOI: 10.1039/D2SM00712F

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