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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/K29296/01
Title: DIPOLE ORGANISATION IN SELF-ASSEMBLED HIGHLY CHIRAL AND POLAR LIQUID CRYSTALS
Principal Investigator: Dunmur, Professor D
Other Investigators:
Ungar, Professor G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Sheffield
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 19 January 1995 Ends: 18 April 1997 Value (£): 80,412
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Condensed Matter Physics Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This proposal is joint between the University of Sheffield Centre for Molecular Materials and the Department of Chemistry, University of Hull. It is proposed to carry out a major investigation of new dipole-organised fluids, which exhibit a variety of ferro antiferro- and ferrielectric liquid crystal phases. Two aspects of the work are synthesis and phase characterisation by Hull, and a detailed study of molecular organisation by Sheffield using techniques of polarisation measurement, ellipsometry and high resolution low angle x-ray scattering. The importance of dipole-organised liquid crystal fluids for applications is that they are intrinsically electro-active, and can be used in signal processing sensors and complex displays. The research at Sheffield will use a combination of molecular modelling and polarisation studies to relate macroscopic electric properties to molecular structure. Ellipsometric measurements on free-standing films will permit changes in molecular organisation to be monitored as charges in optical path length, It is possible to change the number of layers systematically as well as measuring the response to temperature and electric field. High resolution x-ray studies will provide additional information on molecular organisation in the layers and will yield a detailed model for the local structure and its response to external electric fields.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.shef.ac.uk