Propelling and spinning of microsheets in nematic liquid crystals driven by ac electric field

摘要

Dynamics of microparticles in isotropic liquids by transducing the energy of an applied electric field havebeen studied for decades. Recently, such studies in anisotropic media like liquid crystals have opened up newperspectives in colloid science. Here, we report studies on ac-electric-field-driven dynamics of microsheets innematic liquid crystals. In planar aligned liquid crystals, with negative dielectric anisotropy, the microsheets arepropelled parallel to the director. A steady spinning of the microsheets is observed in homeotropic cells withpositive dielectric anisotropy liquid crystals. The velocity of propelling and the angular frequency of spinningdepends on the amplitude and the frequency of the applied electric field. The electrokinetic studies of anisotropicmicroparticles are important as they are potential for applications in microfluidics and in areas where the controlledtransport or rotation is required.