Surfing on the order parameter: nanoparticle transport in liquid crystal solvents

Although liquid crystal fluids are well known for their applications in display technologies, they can also be considered as interesting anisotropic solvents for small molecules and nanoparticles. By matching solute length-scales to the approximate size of the liquid crystal molecules, atypical transport phenomena can be observed that may lead to new self-assembly mechanisms. Such phenomena include steric solubility effects – shape dependent transport in the anisotropic liquid crystal environment – and nanoparticle interactions with topological defects in the liquid crystal phase. In this talk I will review recent progress from our group in this field, including high speed video imaging and analysis of the isotropic to nematic phase transition, and new theoretical approaches to modeling this composite system. Connections with theoretical modelling incorporating anisotropic diffusion and active transport by the isotropic/nematic interface will also be discussed.