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 Thg8 2023
Accepted
03 Thg4 2024
First published
05 Thg4 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

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements