Issue 16, 2024

Topology of ferroelectric nematic droplets: the case driven by flexoelectricity or depolarization field

Abstract

The recent discovery of ferroelectric nematics provides new opportunities for exploring polar topology in liquid matter. Here, we report numerous potential polarization topological states (e.g., polar vortex-like and line disclination mediated structures) in confined ferroelectric nematics with similar free-energy levels. In the experiment, they appear according to the confinement size and surface anchoring conditions. Based on a minimal analytical approach, we reveal that the topological transformation is balanced among the nematic elasticity, the polarization gradient, the flexoelectric and the depolarization interactions.

Graphical abstract: Topology of ferroelectric nematic droplets: the case driven by flexoelectricity or depolarization field

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
07 Aug. 2023
Accepted
03 Apr. 2024
First published
05 Apr. 2024

Soft Matter, 2024,20, 3392-3400

Topology of ferroelectric nematic droplets: the case driven by flexoelectricity or depolarization field

Y. Zou, J. Yang, X. Zhang, M. Huang and S. Aya, Soft Matter, 2024, 20, 3392 DOI: 10.1039/D3SM01042B

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