Templating Nanomaterials and Other Applications of SmA LCs

Nanomaterials play important roles to emerging nanotechnologies. However, it remains the major challenge for the preparation of functional materials and devices with engineered order. The ability to control the assembly of SmA LCs in 3D with 

Because the layers of LCs transmit elastic energy, they can be used to do mechanical work, such as to assemble nanomaterials and induce topological defects in LCs. The feasibility of this scheme has been illustrated in the lab scale. For instance, linear and hexagonal arrays of nanoparticles were elastically trapped at various sites of smectic defects. Single wall carbon nanotubes could be organized into 2D parallel sheets between smectic layers due to specific interactions between n and n interactions between the hexagonal rings of the carbon nanotubes and the aromatic moieties of LC molecules [62, 67, 71]. 

To conclude, the research on directed assembly of Sm LCs in complex geometries has just begun. The advances on how to control FCDs in thin films could lead to a new paradigm of liquid crystal soft lithography for micro- and nanofabrications, which in turn will extend applications beyond displays and 

Acknowledgments This work is supported by National Science Foundation (NSF)/MRSEC grant, DMRl 1-20901. We are grateful to Randall D. Kamien (RDK) fm stimulating our interests in Sm LCs, RDK, Kathleen Stebe, Daniel A. Beller (DAB), Marcello Cavallaro, Jr., Mohamed Amine Gharbi for helpful discussion and collaboration on the work of directed assembly of Sm LCs. We also acknowledge DAB for providing Fig. 2.2a illustration. 

Alignment of liquid crystals with patterned isotropic surfaces. Science 291, 2576-2580 (2001) 

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