Project description DEENESFRITPL Revealing the inner workings of liquid crystals Liquid crystals are notorious for their use in tiny digital watches and large flat panel displays. However, little is known about the particle interactions that take place at the interfaces of liquid crystals. The EU-funded EXCHANGE_inLCs project has set out to elucidate the particle–liquid crystal interactions on the sub-micron scale by examining the chemistry and nanoparticle geometrical effects at the interfaces of liquid crystals. The research will focus on how particle confinement, size and shape affect interactions. The project's results are expected to advance fundamental knowledge of nanoparticle self-assembly in anisotropic fluids, which is key to the development of new bottom-up approaches in nanotechnology. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The organization of nanoparticles is important for tuning material characteristics, impacting electronic and optical properties. Systems in nanotechnology are reliant upon self-assembly. Recently, liquid crystals, famous for displays, have been employed to self-assemble particles, due to the medium’s ability to form complex patterns. However, the exact interactions between nanoparticles and liquid crystals at the submicron scale remain ambiguous. EXCHANGE_inLCs seeks to elucidate particle-liquid crystal interactions at the submicron scale, by EXamining CHemistry and Nanoparticle Geometry Effects at the INterface of Liquid CrystalS through: 1) varying system GEOMETRY to elucidate the impact of confinement, particle size, and shape, and 2) varying system CHEMISTRY to clarify the activity of certain chemical species around particles. The project will be performed at Utrecht University, where the host has expertise in nanoparticle assembly and light nanoscopy. By varying system length scales and types of surface treatments, key interactions can be isolated.The project will facilitate the following two-way transfer of knowledge between the host and me: A) The host has innovated methods of functionalizing, manipulating, and imaging particle assemblies, down to the single-particle resolution. Both skills are essential for me to investigate my systems at a challenging length scale where both chemistry and geometry can be equally influential. B) The host has a history of exploring the ordering of rod-like particles (colloidal liquid crystals), and my expertise in patterning rod-like molecules (molecular liquid crystals) would complement their body of knowledge. We share a mutual interest in interparticle interactions and their effects on self-assembly. The project combines our areas of expertise to advance fundamental knowledge of nanoparticle self-assembly in anisotropic fluids, essential for developing new bottom-up approaches in nanotechnology, a European priority. Fields of science humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometryengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringliquid crystals Keywords liquid crystals nanoparticles self-assembly Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2019 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2019 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Net EU contribution € 187 572,48 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 187 572,48
