In this article we describe for bimesogens the first observed transition from a "heliconical" twist-bend nematic liquid crystal to a novel biaxial, anticlinic, intercalated lamellar phase. The phase behaviour and structures of both polymorphs is similar to that of polymers, confirming that bimesogens can act as model systems for main chain liquid crystal polymers, and in principle are separate soft-matter branches of self-organising systems.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5sm02720a | DOI Listing |
Soft Matter
January 2025
Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
We report an experimental study on how topological defects induced by cylindrical air inclusions in the ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal RM734 are influenced by ionic doping, including an ionic surfactant and ionic polymer. Our results show that subtle differences in molecular structure can lead to distinct surface alignments and topological defects. The ionic surfactant induces a planar alignment, with two -1/2 line defects adhering to the cylindrical bubble surface.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
The past decade witnessed a surge in discoveries where biological systems, such as bacteria or living cells, inherently portray active polar or nematic behavior: they prefer to align with each other and form local order during migration. Although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, utilizing their physical properties to achieve controllable cell-layer transport will be of fundamental importance. In this study, the ratchet effect is harnessed to control the collective motion of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnal Chem
January 2025
Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, China.
Nanoplastics, emerging as pervasive environmental pollutants, pose significant threats to ecosystems and human health due to their small size and potential toxicity. However, detecting trace levels of nanoplastics remains challenging because of limitations in the current analytical methods. Herein, we propose a method that combines superhydrophobic enrichment with SERS analysis for detecting trace nanoplastics in aqueous environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFree Neuropathol
January 2024
Friedman Brain Institute, Departments of Pathology, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence & Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.
Cryopreservation, the preservation of tissues at subzero temperatures, is a mainstay of brain banking that allows for the storage of brain tissue without the use of chemical fixatives. This is particularly important for molecular studies that are incompatible with tissue fixation. However, brain tissue is vulnerable to various forms of damage during the cryopreservation process, in particular due to the phase transition of water from a liquid to a solid state with the formation of ice crystals, which can disrupt cellular morphology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNature
January 2025
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Electrons in topological flat bands can form new topological states driven by correlation effects. The pentalayer rhombohedral graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) moiré superlattice was shown to host fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect (FQAHE) at approximately 400 mK (ref. ), triggering discussions around the underlying mechanism and role of moiré effects.
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