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SUMMARY:Microphase separation driven transitions in macromolecular liquid 
 crystals by computer simulations - Ilnytskyi\, J (National Academy of Scie
 nces of Ukraine)
DTSTART:20130320T160000Z
DTEND:20130320T165000Z
UID:TALK44022@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mustapha Amrani
DESCRIPTION:We present the results of some recent simulations of macromole
 cular liquid crystal systems that undergo order-disorder transitions drive
 n by a microphase separation. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed
  to study a liquid crystal elastomer of a side-chain architecture crosslin
 ked in the SmA phase. Several effects have been observed: (i) the increase
  of the SmA-I transition temperature as the result of crosslinking\; (ii) 
 memory effects in liquid crystallinity and shape when the elastomer is dri
 ven through the Sm-I transition\; (iii) both cases of homogeneous director
  reorientation and stripe formation when the load is applied along the nem
 atic director [1]. In another set of results we consider bulk self-assembl
 y of liquid crystal dendrimers studied by means of coarse-grained molecula
 r dynamics simulations. We discuss the details of the modelling and its ap
 plication to polymer-modified gold nanoparticles. The particular model den
 drimer being studied demonstrates conforma tional bistability\, with both 
 rod-like and disc-like conformations stable at lower temperatures. Each co
 nformation can be induced by the external field of appropriate symmetry\, 
 promoting further self-assembly of macromolecules into a bulk monodomain S
 mA or a columnar phase\, respectively [2]. The domains of both phases are 
 found to coexist and influence the system properties in a broad temperatur
 e interval including transition to the macroscopically isotropic phase. We
  also discuss the effect of surface anchoring on the self-assembly of thes
 e macromolecules [3]. \n\n[1] J.M.Ilnytskyi\, M.Saphiannikova\, D.Neher\, 
 M.P.Allen\, Soft Matter (2012)\, DOI: 10.1039/c2sm26499d [2] J.M.Ilnytskyi
 \, J.S.Lintuvuori\, M.R.Wilson\, Condens. Matter Phys. 13\, 33001 (2010). 
 [3] J.M.Ilnytskyi\, M.Schoen\, M.R.Wilson\, in preparation. \n\n
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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