On the inexistence of a "splay(-bend)" nematic phase

2025/04/23 by Giorgio Cinacchi, Cinacchi, Giorgio
Materials Science · Mathematics · #Advanced Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems #FOS: Physical sciences #Liquid Crystal Research Advancements #Mathematics and Applications #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2504.16614

openalex publication_date 2025/04/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

On the basis of the application of the (Onsager) second-virial density functional theory to an artificial system that is so designed as to be the best promoter of a ``splay(-bend)'' nematic phase, it is argued that this ``modulated'' nematic phase cannot exist.

Citations

• Dense packings of hard circular arcs
• First-Principles Experimental Demonstration of Ferroelectricity in a Thermotropic Nematic Liquid Crystal: Spontaneous Polar Domains and Striking Electro-Optics
• Mechanisms to Splay-Bend Nematic Phases
• Splay nematic phase
• Basic Understanding of Condensed Phases of Matter via Packing Models
• Note: Formation of the nematic splay-bend in two-dimensional systems of bow-shaped particles
• Cholesteric and screw-like nematic phases in systems of helical particles
• Structure formation in monolayers composed of hard bent-core molecules
• Phase ordering of zig-zag and bow-shaped hard needles in two dimensions
• From rods to helices: evidence of a screw-like nematic phase
• Entropy driven formation of a chiral liquid crystalline phase of helical filaments
• THE EFFECTS OF SHAPE ON THE INTERACTION OF COLLOIDAL PARTICLES

Related

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• The nematic phase of a system of long hard rods - ICMP12 talk, Aalborg, August 2012
• Onsager theory of length-bidisperse hard rods: Evidence for a nematic-nematic critical point
• A tensor model for nematic phases of bent-core molecules based on molecular theory