Surface structure of obliquely deposited layers and liquid crystal alignment

The dependence of the orientational action of obliquely deposited SiO_x layers on the deposition angle and the residual gas pressure has been investigated. The variation of the pressure gave rise to a modification of the general dependence of the pretilt angle of liquid crystals on the deposition angle. A model has been developed which explains the action of all deposition parameters on the orientational behaviour of liquid crystals. In a first step, some tendencies of the layer formation are stated. Thereby, in a second step, it is possible to explain the change in the orientation at variations of deposition parameters using the knowledge of these tendencies and experimentally stated informations on the relative change of layer parameters.     

Morphological lattice complexes

Binary and pseudobinary compounds AB like NaCl and CaCO₃, with the center of charge at carbon position, are characterized by self‐coordination numbers of nearest, second and third neighbors T ₁ T ₂ T ₃ of A and B positions. The maximum Madelung factor of compounds with identical T _i values of A and B atoms is obtained for a maximum of B positions at the border of the A–A Dirichlet domain. The A and B positions form a packing with different T _i values, if all B positions are on the border of the Dirichlet domain. This packing like the primitive cubic packing of Na and Cl atoms with T _i values 6 12 8 or the rhombohedrally distorted packing 6 8 6 of CaCO₃ as morphological lattice complexes can be related to cubic NaCl crystals or the cleaved rhombohedron of calcite. A different habit of crystals is expected for sphere, rod or layered packings. Many well‐defined nanoparticles can be obtained from microemulsions at variation of temperature, water content or water partial pressure. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)