Monolayer control of discotic liquid crystal by electromigration of dewetted layers in thin film devices

We show that ultrathin films of a semiconductive discotic liquid crystal, viz. phthalocyanines, can be organized to form a conductive channel tens of microns long between Au electrodes with thickness control over a single monolayer. Our approach exploits the electromigration of the isotropic phase formed starting from the pretransitional region of the columnar-isotropic phase transition. Dewetted isotropic material accumulates to the negative electrode by applying a longitudinal electric field of about 1 V/microm. Dewetting and electromigration expose an ultrathin film, a few monolayers thick, exhibiting columnar liquid crystal order. The layers of this ultrathin film melt progressively above T(C) and can be individually exfoliated by electromigration, starting from the ninth down to the first monolayer. The analysis of the current flowing through the junction as a function of the temperature, together with the comparative imaging of the evolution of morphology, yields a detailed picture of the changes in the dimensionality of the conductive phthalocyanine film and allows us to extract the behavior of the order parameter. The phenomenon of electromigration opens interesting questions on the technological control of individual monolayers on device patterns.     

A two dimensional liquid crystal simulation for thin film transistor liquid crystal displays

Abstract

A two-dimensional liquid crystal simulation, whose electrode configuration corresponds to that in a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD), was carried out. Simulation results show that the lateral field between buslines and pixel electrode forms a reverse tilt domain. This reverse tilt domain leads to the disclination on the pixel electrode. The distance from the pixel electrode edge to this disclination location depends on the dielectric anisotropy and elastic constant for the liquid crystal. A small dielectric anisotropy or large elastic constant makes this distance small.     

Microfluidic immunoassay with plug-in liquid crystal for optical detection of antibody

Recent advance in liquid crystal (LqC) based immunoassays enables label-free detection of antibody, but manual preparation of LqC cells and injection of LqC are required. In this work, we developed a new format of LqC-based immunoassay which is hosted in a microfluidic device. In this format, the orientations of LqC are strongly influenced by four channel walls surrounding the LqC. When the aspect ratio (depth/width) of the channel is smaller than 0.38, LqC orients homeotropically inside the microchannel and appears dark. After antigens bind to immobilized antibodies on the channel walls, a shift of the LqC appearance from dark to bright (due to the disruption of LqC orientation) can be visualized directly. To streamline the immunoassay process, a tubing cartridge loaded with a sample solution, washing buffers and a plug of LqC is connected to the microfluidic device. By using pressure-driven flow, the cartridge allows antigen/antibody binding, washing and optical detection to be accomplished in a sequential order. We demonstrate that this microfluidic immunoassay is able to detect anti-rabbit IgG with a naked-eye detection limit down to 1 μg mL⁻¹. This new format of immunoassay provides a simple and robust approach to perform LqC-based label-free immunodetection in microfluidic devices.     

Optical activity of chiral thin film and liquid crystal hybrids

Using the glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique, we have fabricated porous, chiral thin films with optically anisotropic helical microstructures that exhibit optical phenomena such as wavelength specific rotation of linearly polarized light. Initial research has shown that the porosity of the films allows for the addition of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) to the films for promising applications in dynamically switchable devices, while simultaneously enhancing the optical properties of the film. This study describes the fundamental optical behaviour of LC-filled chiral thin films in relation to material, porosity, structure and thickness. It was found that for SiO₂ films, the addition of NLCs increased the effective rotatory power by two-fold when compared with results from the film without added LCs. The rotatory power of Al₂O₃ and MgF₂ films, while being similarly increased by the addition of LCs, exhibited a reversal in sign, or direction of rotation, for the visible wavelength spectrum investigated. The effects of film porosity and structure were studied by varying the angle of incidence from 83° to 86°; it was found that the greater porosity of the films deposited at larger angles allowed for more filling by the LCs and thus a larger increase in rotatory power. Finally, the addition of LCs was observed to shift the wavelength of peak rotation towards smaller values.     

Optical activity of chiral thin film and liquid crystal hybrids

Using the glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique, we have fabricated porous, chiral thin films with optically anisotropic helical microstructures that exhibit optical phenomena such as wavelength specific rotation of linearly polarized light. Initial research has shown that the porosity of the films allows for the addition of nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) to the films for promising applications in dynamically switchable devices, while simultaneously enhancing the optical properties of the film. This study describes the fundamental optical behaviour of LC-filled chiral thin films in relation to material, porosity, structure and thickness. It was found that for SiO₂ films, the addition of NLCs increased the effective rotatory power by two-fold when compared with results from the film without added LCs. The rotatory power of Al₂O₃ and MgF₂ films, while being similarly increased by the addition of LCs, exhibited a reversal in sign, or direction of rotation, for the visible wavelength spectrum investigated. The effects of film porosity and structure were studied by varying the angle of incidence from 83° to 86°; it was found that the greater porosity of the films deposited at larger angles allowed for more filling by the LCs and thus a larger increase in rotatory power. Finally, the addition of LCs was observed to shift the wavelength of peak rotation towards smaller values.     

Self-activating liquid crystal devices for smart laser protection

ABSTRACT

Lasers are now extensively used in a multitude of optical devices and photonic systems spanning from sensing, communication, entertainment, medical surgery to military applications. Direct accidental or intentional exposures to high power lasers may lead to severe temporary or even permanent harm of human eye, skin, or optical sensors. The effective laser protection and shielding are currently not only a subject of scientific research but also a potential public safety issue, therefore there is an urgent need to develop the intelligent laser protection devices for keeping human eyes, optical sensors, and other sensitive components from these unintended or intended damages by laser radiations without warning. Self-activating liquid crystal devices undoubtedly represent such an elegant example because they could be autonomously activated to block or attenuate the lasers when the laser intensity is higher than a maximum permissible exposure value. This review is devoted to summarising the up-to-date significant advances of self-activating liquid crystal devices for potential smart laser protection, including twist-aligned nematic liquid crystal devices, liquid crystal cored waveguide fibre arrays, and photovoltaic/pyroelectric-hybridised liquid crystal devices. Finally, the review concludes with the perspectives and challenges for the future development of self-activating liquid crystal devices. It is anticipated that this glimpse and further endeavours in the emerging field will help the researchers from different backgrounds towards the fabrication of highly efficient laser protection devices, their real-world widespread applications and beyond.     

Analysis of the operation mode of reflective liquid crystal display devices with front film compensation

The front film compensated reflective liquid crystal display device was studied in normally black and normally white operation conditions using a dynamic parameter space method. The electro-optical response and reflectance spectra were also studied for different operation modes. We show that high quality normally white or normally black modes can be obtained by placing the fast axis of a quarter wave plate at 45° or 0° to the input director direction. The viewing angle characteristics of the optimum modes are wide and symmetrical.     

Analysis of the operation mode of reflective liquid crystal display devices with front film compensation

The front film compensated reflective liquid crystal display device was studied in normally black and normally white operation conditions using a dynamic parameter space method. The electro-optical response and reflectance spectra were also studied for different operation modes. We show that high quality normally white or normally black modes can be obtained by placing the fast axis of a quarter wave plate at 45° or 0° to the input director direction. The viewing angle characteristics of the optimum modes are wide and symmetrical.     

Evaporation of a thin liquid film

Evaporation of a thin (submicrometer size) liquid film confined between two solid substrates is studied using diffuse interface hydrodynamic model supplemented by the van der Waals equation of state. The time and space evolution of the basic thermodynamic quantities such as temperature, density, entropy, chemical potential, and entropy production is presented. The values of numerical parameters chosen correspond to those of argon. The time and space scales studied range from picoseconds to microseconds and from nanometers to micrometers correspondingly.     

Dielectric spectroscopy analysis in employing liquid crystal phthalonitrile derivative in nematic liquid crystals

Dielectric anizotropy and relaxation properties of 2,3-dicyano-1,4-di[3,4,5-tri(dodecyloxy)phenylcarbonyloxy] benzene (DCDPB)-doped E7 and E7 liquid crystal have been investigated by the dielectric spectroscopy method. Dielectric anisotropy property of the LCs changes from the positive type to negative type. Dielectric relaxation properties suggest that LCs exhibit a monodispersive dielectric property. The relaxation frequency of E7 and E7/DCDPB liquid crystals was calculated by means of Cole-Cole plots. Consequently, DCDPB dopant changes the dielectric anizotropy and relaxation parameters of E7 LC.     

Local Freedericksz transitions at a nematic liquid crystal/thin film oxide ferroelectric interface

The electro-optical properties of a novel device comprising nematic liquid crystals and a thin film oxide ferroelectric (OFE) substrate are reported. The OFE was the lead zirconate-lead titanate, PZT, system with the molar composition 30:70, respectively. The first evidence of the interaction of nematic liquid crystals with the spontaneous polarisation ( Ps ) of an OFE is presented. Coupling of the ferroelectric Ps from poled grains (5-10mum in diameter) with the liquid crystal results in local Freedericksz transitions, allowing the grain structure of the substrate to be visualized. Further, this novel device structure allows the director tilt and anchoring energy of commercially available nematic materials to be quantified.     

Microfluidic designs and techniques using lab-on-a-chip devices for pathogen detection for point-of-care diagnostics

Effective pathogen detection is an essential prerequisite for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Despite recent advances in biosensors, infectious diseases remain a major cause of illnesses and mortality throughout the world. For instance in developing countries, infectious diseases account for over half of the mortality rate. Pathogen detection platforms provide a fundamental tool in different fields including clinical diagnostics, pathology, drug discovery, clinical research, disease outbreaks, and food safety. Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices offer many advantages for pathogen detection such as miniaturization, small sample volume, portability, rapid detection time and point-of-care diagnosis. This review paper outlines recent microfluidic based devices and LOC design strategies for pathogen detection with the main focus on the integration of different techniques that led to the development of sample-to-result devices. Several examples of recently developed devices are presented along with respective advantages and limitations of each design. Progresses made in biomarkers, sample preparation, amplification and fluid handling techniques using microfluidic platforms are also covered and strategies for multiplexing and high-throughput analysis, as well as point-of-care diagnosis, are discussed.     

Analysis of operation mode of reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices with rear film compensation

The rear film compensated reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal display device was studied in normally black and normally white operation conditions using a dynamic parameter space method. The electro-optical responses and reflectance spectra were also studied for different operation modes. A comparison was made between rear film and front film compensated reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal displays. We show that high quality normally white or normally black modes can be obtained by placing the fast axis of a quarter wave plate at 45° or 0° to the input director direction. The viewing angle characteristics of the optimum modes were also studied.     

Analysis of operation mode of reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal display devices with rear film compensation

The rear film compensated reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal display device was studied in normally black and normally white operation conditions using a dynamic parameter space method. The electro-optical responses and reflectance spectra were also studied for different operation modes. A comparison was made between rear film and front film compensated reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal displays. We show that high quality normally white or normally black modes can be obtained by placing the fast axis of a quarter wave plate at 45° or 0° to the input director direction. The viewing angle characteristics of the optimum modes were also studied.     

Instability of confined thin liquid film trilayers

The instability of a system in which three stratified thin liquid films are confined in a channel with parallel walls and the interior film is subject to van der Waals-driven breakup is examined in this work. We derive a model based on lubrication theory and consisting of a pair of nonlinear partial differential equations describing the position of the two liquid interfaces. A linear stability analysis is carried out to show that the effects of varying the boundary film thicknesses can be understood in terms of several known limits, including a supported monolayer, confined bilayer, and supported bilayer. Variation of the boundary film viscosities is shown in many cases to eliminate the supported-bilayer limit. The parameter regimes in which squeezing and bending modes dominate the initial growth are determined, and nonlinear simulations are used to show that the mode always switches to squeezing near rupture. It is also found that a multi-modal dispersion relation may be created by asymmetries in thickness ratio, but not viscosity ratio, even in the absence of asymmetric interfacial tensions. The results of this study are expected to be relevant to multiphase microfluidic systems and the lithographic printing process.     

Switchable anti-peeping film for liquid crystal displays from polymer dispersed liquid crystals

Liquid crystals displays (LCDs) currently dominate the display market, wherein a wide viewing angle is considered as one of the most important characteristics. However, for LCDs with wide viewing angles, some private information inevitably becomes more visible; thus, an LCD with a switchable viewing angle has attracted greater interest. Here, we report a novel switchable viewing angle film that can make the viewing angle of an LCD electrically switchable between ±30° and ±60°, i.e. between an anti-peeping mode and a share mode, by 5.0 V is turned on and off, respectively. The response time necessary to change between the modes is in milliseconds. It is believed that it has potential applications in LCDs with high quality.     

Polyimide thin films as compensators for liquid crystal displays

The disadvantages of NW-TN-LCD (normally white twisted nematic liquid crystal display) are discussed. The reason that the negative birefringent polyimide thin films are used to compensate NW-TN-LCD to decrease off-axis leakage, improve contrast ratios and enlarge viewing angles is explained. A certain polyimide thin film is taken as an example to show the compensation effect on NW-TN-LCD. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microfluidic devices for the analysis of apoptosis

Apoptosis is the outcome of a metabolic cascade that results in cell death in a controlled manner. Due to its important role in maintaining balance in organisms, in mechanisms of diseases, and tissue homeostasis, apoptosis is of great interest in the emerging fields of systems biology. Research into cell death regulation and efforts to model apoptosis processes have become powerful drivers for new technologies to acquire ever more comprehensive information from cells and cell populations. The microfluidic technology promises to integrate and miniaturize many bioanalytical processes, which offers an alternative platform for the analysis of apoptosis. This review aims to highlight the recent developments of microfluidic devices in measuring the hallmarks as well as the dynamic process of cellular apoptosis. The potential capability and an outlook of microfluidic devices for the study of apoptosis are addressed.