Research Projects

This study aims to investigate the relatively new twist-bend nematic (NTB) liquid crystal phase, which has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its fascinating molecular structure and physical properties and the possibility of use in the next generation of fast electro-optic technology. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction will be employed to measure its structural features, including order parameters, cone angle, intermolecular distance, apparent molecular length and correlation lengths across temperatures. Comparative analysis of NTB and nematic phases will focus on examining the impact of pseudo layers and nanoscale molecular orientation. The project will utilize several techniques to measure temperature-dependent optical birefringence, dielectric anisotropy, splay and bend elastic constants, rotational viscosity and heat capacity aiming to uncover the correlation between molecular structure and physical properties, providing insights into NTB phase behavior and guiding molecule design for optimized properties. The influence of dipolar groups on NTB phase stability will be studied by doping suitable rod-like molecules. The contentious nature of the transition from the conventional nematic phase to the NTB phase will also be examined.