Increase in interparticle distance of colloidal dipolar chain in nematic liquid crystal by trapping it on splay-bend wall

Abstract

We demonstrate an increase in the interparticle distance of a colloidal dipolar chain in a nematic liquid crystal (NLC). Applying an in-plane electric field perpendicular to the rubbing direction induces a splay-bend wall defect in the middle of the electrode gap, which traps a dipolar chain. Above the Freedericksz threshold electric field, the interparticle distance increases with increasing applied electric field, owing to the reorientation of the NLC molecules. The maximum increase is 32% of the particle diameter. © 2012 Copyright 2012 Author(s). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.