Two-Dimensional Nematic Colloidal Crystals Self-Assembled by Topological Defects

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1129660
• Publication Date: 2006-08-17T22:18:52Z
• Authors: Igor Muševič; Miha Škarabot; Uroš Tkalec; Miha Ravnik; Slobodan Žumer
• Keywords: Topological defect; Colloidal crystal; Particle (ecology); Colloidal particle

The ability to generate regular spatial arrangements of particles is an important technological and fundamental aspect colloidal science. We showed that confined a few-micrometer-thick layer nematic liquid crystal form two-dimensional structures are bound by topological defects. Two basic crystalline were observed, depending on the ordering around particle. Colloids inducing quadrupolar order crystallize into weakly ordered structure, where particle interaction mediated sharing localized dipolar strongly antiferroelectric-like crystallites chains. Self-assembly defects could be applied other systems with similar symmetry.