Lci-Research
NSF-supported research at the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute: Liquid crystals command swimming bacteria
Transport of fluids and particles at the micro scale is an important theme both in fundamental and applied science. The project explores how this transport can be controlled by anisotropic fluids, namely, by a liquid crustal with pre-designed spatially-variable orientation of molecules. The main foc…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
NSF sponsored research at the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute: Controlled placement of colloids by patterns liquid crystals
Exploration of liquid crystals often brings beautiful images of birefringent textures with topological defects and structures that underscore the intimate connections between condensed matter, optics and mathematics. Oleg Levrentovich's two images of liquid crystals have been selected for outdoor ex…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
NSF sponsored research at the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute: Controlled placement of colloids by patterns liquid crystals
There is a tremendous progress in both the scientific understanding and applications of self-assumblies of small particles. Forming superstructures in which particles of different nature occupy presdeisnged sites represents a major challenge of the current state-of-the art. We proposed a versatile a…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
Magnetic Field Affects Liquid Crystals in Unexpected Ways
A group of researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State University have published a breakthrough article on new properties of liquid crystals in the May 27 issue of Physical Review Letters. The article, which describes some recent surprising results involving nematic liquid crystals…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
Thermally Active Liquid Crystal Network Gripper Mimicking the Self-Peeling of Gecko Toe Pads
The ability of geckos to climb on surfaces is mainly pegged on their adhesive toe pads. The pads are designed with hair-like structures. These hierarchical structures enhance compliance, intimate contact and promote van der Waals interactions with the surfaces. It has been confirmed that a uniq…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
Newly Developed Liquid Crystal Elastomer Material Could Enable Advanced Sensors, Kent State Researchers Say
Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), essentially rubbers with liquid crystal properties, can do a number of fascinating things, especially in the fields of optics, photonics, telecommunications and medicine. They can curl up, bend, twist, wrinkle and stretch when exposed to light, heat, gases and other…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute
NSF supports theoretical study on pattern formation and shape evolution in soft matter
Professors Robin Selinger and Jonathan Selinger have been awarded a new grant from the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research. The project is entitled, "Topological Defects, Curved Geometries, and Shape Evolution in Soft Matter." This award is funded by the Divisi…
Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute