When Push Comes to Shove : Limitations of Hydrogen Bonded Liquid Crystal/Inhibitor Networks

Abstract

A liquid crystal is state of matter that simultaneously displays properties of both a liquid and a solid. Liquid crystals have applications in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and optical imaging technology. Liquid crystals or “mesogens” are created when molecules have both core (ex. aromatic) and chain (ex. alkyl group) structures. This allows the molecule to form a semiordered phase in between a solid and a liquid. In this experiment, liquid crystallinity was induced thermally to form rod-like semi-ordered phases.