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Nucleation and Coalescence of Isotropic Droplets in a Liquid-Crystal Matrix. The Role of Surfaces

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Abstract

We investigate the influence of surface on the behavior of nematic and isotropic phases in flat liquid-crystal cells in the two-phase region at the nematic–isotropic liquid transition. At the first stage of the transition, the nucleation and growth of three-dimensional droplets occur. Then quasi-two-dimensional coalescence dominates. We investigate the dependence of the number of droplets on time and transformation of the size distribution of the droplets in the two-phase region. The dynamics of coalescence is studied when the influence of the surface of the cells dominates. From measurements of droplet shapes at the late stage of coalescence we estimate the energy of the nematic–isotropic liquid interface.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation, project no. 18-12-00108.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432, Chernogolovka, Russia

    P. V. Dolganov, A. S. Zverev, N. A. Spiridenko, K. D. Baklanova & V. K. Dolganov

  2. National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000, Moscow, Russia

    K. D. Baklanova

Authors
  1. P. V. Dolganov
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  2. A. S. Zverev
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  3. N. A. Spiridenko
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  4. K. D. Baklanova
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  5. V. K. Dolganov
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Correspondence to P. V. Dolganov.

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Translated by Yu. Ryzhkov

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Dolganov, P.V., Zverev, A.S., Spiridenko, N.A. et al. Nucleation and Coalescence of Isotropic Droplets in a Liquid-Crystal Matrix. The Role of Surfaces. J. Surf. Investig. 16, 586–591 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1027451022040243

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